Sunday Shoes ‘Kicks Off’ With ‘Rising Star’ Debut

Lael Stables’ Sunday Shoes (f, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Silvertoni, by Tapit) was forced to cover stacks of ground when making her career debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden under the Wednesday night lights at Turfway and turned in a spectacular effort to earn the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction.

A $500,000 acquisition by Michael Hernon on behalf of Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s operation from the Woodford draft at Keeneland September in 2021, Sunday Shoes was sent off as the 9-2 third choice on debut and was one of the first to break the line from her double-digit draw before easing back to sit in about midfield, albeit well out into the track. Waited with into the final three-eighths of a mile, the bay uncorked an eye-catching rally around the turn while still trapped out and was no better than five deep at the entrance to the stretch. Sunday Shoes wanted to have a good look around once she made the lead, but she was kept to her task and pulled nicely clear of what appeared on paper to be a strong group. OXO Equine’s second-time starter Upper Case (American Pharoah), well-beaten behind future GISW Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) at Saratoga last August, was runner-up here as the 9-5 chalk, while firster Chelsea Pier (Arrogate) spiced up the triple at 24-1.

Sunday Shoes is a sixth ‘Rising Star’ for the much-missed Pioneerof the Nile, who is the sire of Lael’s gifted turf sprinter Arrest Me Red, also a Ward trainee. Woodford Thoroughbreds acquired the winner’s stakes-winning dam–also second in the 2016 GII Adirondack S.–for $800,000 in foal to Quality Road at the 2018 Keeneland November sale.

Silvertoni, herself a $230,000 KEESEP yearling, is a grand-daughter of Grade I winner Easy Now, a half-sister to the legendary champion and nine-time Grade I winner Easy Goer (Alydar) and GI Ballerina S. heroine Cadillacing (Alydar). Fourth dam Relaxing (Buckpasser) was the champion older mare of 1981 and Broodmare of the Year in 1989.

5th-Turfway, $68,852, Msw, 2-15, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f (AWT), 1:16.66, ft, 3 1/2 lengths.
SUNDAY SHOES, f, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
1st Dam: Silvertoni (SW & GSP, $141,330), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Somasach, by Johannesburg
3rd Dam: Easy Now, by Danzig
Sales history; $500,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Lael Stables; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Wesley A Ward.

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