Cliff and Michele Love's multiple grade 2-winning 5-year-old homebred Damon's Mound, racing for the first time in more than a year, made a triumphant return to action with a determined neck victory over Comedy Town in the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint Stakes Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park.
The six-furlong Sunshine Sprint was the second of two stakes for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up, following the Ninja Star's upset of the $75,000 Sunshine Turf Stakes, which was moved to the all-weather Tapeta due to overnight rain.
Ridden by Junior Alvarado for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Damon's Mound ($6.40) completed the distance in 1:09.80 over a fast main track in his 12th career start and first against fellow state-breds. Alvarado had been aboard in his four prior starts, the most recent being a fourth in the Malibu Stakes (G1) in December 2023 for prior trainer Michelle Lovell.
"He seems bigger and stronger right now," Alvarado said. "He's been working very good and when a good horse is coming from a big layoff for Mr. Mott, he always gets them ready. He always has them 120 percent ready, and that was the case today."
Banded Rocket, sent off at 37-1, was alert from the gate and established an early lead after going a quarter-mile in :22.19 with Damon's Mound settled in second two-wide ahead of 6-5 favorite Classify and Comedy Town.
Damon's Mound forged a short lead after going the half in :45.10 when Comedy Town ranged up to challenge. Racing side by side down the stretch, Damon's Mound dug in to turn back Comedy Town for his fourth career stakes win.
Classify finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Damon's Mound had been training steadily at Payson Park Training Center for his return. He won the 2022 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) in his second career start and the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes and Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) back-to-back for Lovell in 2023.
Video: Sunshine Sprint S. (BT)
Ninja Star Effective on Tapeta in Off-Grass Sunshine Turf
In the $75,000 Sunshine Turf Stakes, Donald Ming's Ninja Star ($14.20) split horses at the top of the stretch and turned back an extended bid from Treasure King on his outside to win by a half-length in 1:41.51 for 1 1/16 miles.
It was the fifth win from 20 career starts and first in a stakes for the 4-year-old Ninja Star, trained by Kevin Rice. Three of the gelding's wins have come in 10 tries over synthetic surfaces.
Victory Achieved, the 8-5 favorite in a field of eight, broke running and went to the front as expected, leading though splits of :23.36 for a quarter-mile and :46.32 for the half with 21-1 longshot Prevent pressing from the three path. Ortiz settled Ninja Star between horses early and they moved up to fifth midway around the far turn, finding plenty of room at the head of the lane to move through and dispel the challenge from Treasure King.
Anamnestic was third.
