Sunday Sunrise Rallies to Win Churchill Downs' Thursday Feature

Jun 11, 2009 By Gary Yunt

Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner’s Sunday Sunrise rallied five wide in the deep stretch and drew off to defeat even-money favorite Au Moon by 2 ½ lengths to win Thursday’s $49,790 allowance feature for 3-year-olds and up at Churchill Downs.
    
Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Sunday Sunrise ran the 1 1/16 miles on a main track rated as “good” in 1:44.86. The victory gave trainer Steve Asmussen his 20th triumph of the Spring Meet, seven more than his closest pursuer, Mike Maker.
    
Sent off as the third choice in the field of seven, Sunday Sunrise returned $14.60, $4.80 and $3.40. Au Moon, ridden by Julien Leparoux, paid $2.80 and $2.20 with pace-setting Squander finishing a length back in third under Calvin Borel and returning $3 to show.

    The victory was worth $30,580 and increased Sunday Sunrise’s earnings to $61,630 with his second victory in nine starts. Sunday Sunrise is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid.

    Racing resumes Friday with an 11-race card with first time at 2:45 p.m. EDT.