Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, and Jan and David Hall’s Positano Sunset split horses in deep stretch and went on to post a smart victory over Emery to win the 24th running of the $650,000 Madison S. (G1) for fillies and mares at Keeneland on Tuesday, April 8.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Positano Sunset used a ground-saving trip behind the leaders to score by one length in the end. The bay mare covered seven furlongs over a fast main track in 1:23.39 for trainer Ian Wilkes.
“She dug in a lot (the last quarter-mile),” said Leparoux. “We expected the two horses (Emery and Mystic Lake) to go to the front. So I was hoping to save ground and then get out. There was a little hole, and she went in there and fought back. She loves this track. She’s a nice filly. Very happy for all the connections for the win.”
Positano Sunset is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Goldencents out of the Consolidator mare Gigglin’ Gal. She was bred in the Bluegrass by John Seller, Randy Bloch, Trish Henson, Brad Stephens, and Dave Hall. With the $397,963 winner’s share of the purse, Positano Sunset is now an earner of $860,063.
“I think it means a lot,” said Wilkes on the value of his charge having faced some of the best female sprinters over the past few years. “The filly matured this winter. You know, she just turned into a different filly, working better, training better. Even as she trained good last year, she’s a different filly this year.”
With her victory in the Madison, Positano Sunset is now a winner in 5-of-16 career starts. She has placed in four others.