Jane M. Schosberg’s Sunshine for Life, allowed an uncontested lead under jockey Channing Hill, got away with a soft pace Saturday afternoon and held on for a half-length upset victory in the 31st running of the Grade 3, $110,300 Athenia Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on Belmont Park’s firm Widener turf course.
Well rested after an upset of second-level Saratoga allowance horses on August 22nd, Sunshine for Life figured to be on the lead for the Athenia, but she also figured to have company from the likes of Waquoit’s Love and Oh Deanne O. That was why the crowd of 5,846 backed Criminologist, figuring her closing style would be ideal in this situation.
It was the fourth win in 11 tries for the 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway filly, and all four victories have come with her on or pressing the lead.
“That helped our economy a little bit,” said winning trainer Richard Schosberg. “I really didn’t want to run her short – there was a mile and a quarter stakes that kept on not filling. Our option was a `three other than’ yesterday, or take a shot here. She’s coming into her pedigree. Channing did a fantastic job on her. He calls it `walking the dog.’ I think her race at Saratoga was indicative. One of these days, she’s not going to pay $49.”
For her next start, Schosberg said the timing is good Aqueduct’s Grade 3, $100,000 Long Island Handicap on November 1, where he will get his chance to run her long at a mile and a quarter on the turf. Hill believes she will tough there as well.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to make the lead,” Hill said. “She settled really nicely the first three jumps. I gave her a little chirp. No one really wanted to go with me, so I thought, `I’ll show them the way to the finish line.’ I have to give kudos to Mr. Schosberg; He had this filly perfect.”
Waquoit’s Love headed Oh Deanne Oh for fourth, while Social Queen and Classic Neel trailed.
Marie Rossa (GB) scratched.
ATHENIA HANDICAP QUOTES
Winning trainer Richard Schosberg of Sunshine for Life (No. 6): “That helped our economy a little bit. I really didn’t want to run her short – there was a mile and a quarter stakes that kept on not filling. Our option was a `three other than’ yesterday, or take a shot here. She’s coming into her pedigree. Channing (Hill) did a fantastic job on her. He calls it `walking the dog.’ I think her race at Saratoga was indicative. One of these days, she’s not going to pay $49. For her next start, the timing is good for the Long Island Handicap (Grade 3, $100,000, fillies and mares, 12 furlongs, turf, Aqueduct Racetrack, November 1)”
Winning jockey Channing Hill: “I wasn’t sure I was going to make the lead. She settled really nicely the first three jumps. I gave her a little chirp. No one really wanted to go with me, so I thought, `I’ll show them the way to the finish line.’ I have to give kudos to Mr. (Richard) Schosberg; he had this filly perfect.”