SPEEDY SUNRISE JOURNEY TAKES $75,000 SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FEATURE BY 2 ¼ LENGTHS AS BAROCIO & MALDONADO TEAM FOR SIX FURLONG SCORE

8-YEAR-OLD CALIFORNIA-BRED GELDING WINS IN OPEN COMPANY AND PICKS UP EXTRA $13,500

ARCADIA CA (April 7, 2023)—On top of his game at age eight, the Librado Barocio-trained Sunrise Journey broke like a shot and never looked back as he took Friday’s $75,000 allowance feature by 2 ¼ lengths. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Sunrise Journey, who was claimed two starts back for $20,000, got six furlongs in 1:09.16.

Four lengths clear an eighth of a mile out of the gate, Sunrise Journey, a California-bred gelding competing in open company, had a length and a half advantage on Tigre de Slugo and Red Flag a quarter mile from home and widened late in a thoroughly dominant performance.

“Edwin fits this horse to a tee,” said Barocio, who got his seventh win of the meet today. “We talked earlier and Edwin said, ‘You know if they’re going to beat us today, let them beat us at our game.’ After the race he said the horse responded when he felt some pressure there around the turn and then he just took off.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of the horse, my team, my assistant Gabrielle Martinez…I’ve got a great team and all of our people work very hard, the grooms, my assistant, the riders. I consider all of them my family.

“And you know, what better day? Today is Good Friday and Easter weekend. I just thank the good Lord above for all of these blessings, for everything.”

A galloping 6 ½ length winner versus $50,000 claiming company going six furlongs on March 12, Sunrise Journey was the second choice today at 2-1 in a field of six older horses and paid $6.80, $4.60 and $3.20.

By Good Journey out of the Speightstown mare Pleasing Sunrise, Sunrise Journey got his 15th win from 44 starts and with the winner’s share of $58,500, which included $13,500 from the California-bred incentive fund, increased his earnings to $387,396.

Closer to the pace today from his rail post, Tigre Di Slugo, with Jose Valdivia, Jr. up, was extra game today. Off at 18-1, he paid $13.00 and $5.80 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Red Flag.

Ridden for the first time by Joe Bravo, Red Flag loomed dangerously turning for home but was third best, finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of favored Howbeit. Off at 7-1, Red Flag paid $5.20 to show.

Entered for an optional claiming tag of $100,000, Howbeit was claimed by trainer George Papaprodromou.

Fractions on the race were 22.36, 44.89 and 56.78.

First post time for a 12-race card on Saturday, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, is at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.