Steal Sunshine, a 5-year-old son of Constitution, produced a steady rally down the center of the racetrack to score a determined victory in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) on Saturday, March 2. Ridden by Paco Lopez, Steal Sunshine covered the one mile on the main track in 1:35.74.
Owned by Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone, and Carrie Brogden, Steal Sunshine is now a three-time stakes winner. Steal Sunshine captured the Ellis Park Derby and the Carry Back S. as a 3-year-old in 2022. With his newest stakes win, Steal Sunshine improved his overall record to 20-6-2-5 and his earnings increased to $490,345.
In addition to his stakes scores, Steal Sunshine owns graded stakes-placings in this year’s Fred Hooper S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, last year’s Philip Iselin S. (G3), and in the 2022 Mr. Prospector S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Steal Sunshine is produced from the Unbridled’s Song mare Warm Sunshine.
“I’m so excited for me, for my team, for the owners,” said winning trainer Bobby DiBona. “It’s a big opportunity. [Co-owner] Carrie [Brogden] has been great for me. She’s one of the top breeders in the country. Having her on the team and Mike [Iavarone] coming in, it’s great. You work hard for these opportunities. My barn is small, so we’re just really excited.”
Constitution, who is represented by four stakes winners already this year, is the leading sixth-crop sire with progeny earnings of more than $1.6 million. His leading earner on the year thus far is Catching Freedom, winner of the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park and most recently third in the Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds.
