Delaware Park 2005

Sun King Leads Down the Stretch © Sarah K Anderson 2005

Sun King Goes Wire to Wire
by Amanda Saunders

Sun King, the three-year-old son of Charismatic out of the Clever Trick mare Clever But Costly, took the lead at the break and held it for the entire 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Leonard Richard Stakes, drawing off to win by nearly six lengths. The Nick Zito-trained colt finished the distance in a time of 1:43.33 in his fourth career win in ten starts with two shows and a total of $682,150 in earnings.

Golden Man came up in the final few strides to grab second with the favored High Limit finishing third while Letterman's Humor and Sort It Out rounded out the field. Papi Chullo and the highly-anticipated Scrappy T were both scratched.

Island Sand is One in a Million
by Emily Hufford

Last year, Acorn Stakes (gr. I) winner Island Sand nearly died following the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. The event was very scary for her connections, but apparently it did not deter the filly herself, as Island Sand swept to an impressive victory in the $1 million Delaware Handicap on Sunday. The tough and talented field included the likes of Isola Piu Bella and Two Trail Sioux, the two favorites, but it ended up being a 3 3/4 length procession for Island Sand.

Two Trail Sioux did finish second, and Personal Legend ran on to be third. Isola Piu Bella finished eighth.

Island Sand, who became a millionare with the win, is trained by Larry Jones for owner B A Man Inc. The daughter of Tabasco Cat has earned $1,159,277.