DEL MAR : Suddenly, Gilded Time Isn’t Only Talented 2-Year-Old for Vienna

Gilded Time isn’t the only talented 2-year-old in trainer Darrell Vienna’s barn.

Sudden Hush made it two victories in three starts with an impressive 2 3/4-length victory over favored Moscow Changes in the $81,525 Graduation Stakes on Wednesday.

A California-bred son of Stop The Music, Sudden Hush tracked pacesetter Barrett’s Bullet early, then drew away when Pat Valenzuela asked and completed the six furlongs in a 1:09 1/5.

Purchased for $10,000 at Del Mar’s California Thoroughbred Sales last year by Vienna for owners William and Ethel Marano, Sudden Hush--the 3-1 second choice Wednesday--was a distant third to Devil Diamond in his debut July 29, then returned to beat maidens by nearly three lengths on Aug. 15.

“This colt improves every day,” said Greg Otteson, Vienna’a assistant. “The more we train him and the more we race him, the better he’s gotten. The main difference between this colt and Gilded Time is that Gilded Time displayed a tremendous amount of talent from the very start. This horse started out kind of slow.”

Unbeaten in two starts, Gilded Time probably will make his next appearance in the closing-day Del Mar Futurity, but he won’t be joined by Sudden Hush.

“(The Futurity) comes up a little quick for this colt,” said Otteson. “You have to look at the big picture. As much as he’s improved with each start, I think he could go anywhere. He’s a very attractive horse. He has the muscle and the body of a sprinter, but the length and scope to go on. There’s a lot of races around the country.”

Like Otteson, Valenzuela sees a big difference in Sudden Hush from the first time he rode him a little over a month ago.

“Darrell has done a terrific job getting this colt to relax,” he said. “He’s a pleasure to ride. He won this race today on his own. He finished great and there’s no doubt he’ll run on. You take it one at a time with a colt like this. He’s got lots of options.”

Bet down to even-money on the strength of his wire-to-wire, debut win on Aug. 5, Moscow Changes finished six lengths in front of 10-1 shot Quite By Chance. Barrett’s Bullet faded to fourth, then came Boating Pleasure, Just Sid, Starlifter, Top Of The Moon and Velvet Cub. Minks Law, Carla Pockett, White Torpedo, Cabo Real and Fleet Wizard were all scratched.

“He ran super,” said Chris McCarron of Moscow Changes. “No complaints there. The other horse just didn’t come back to us.”

Nine 2-year-old fillies are expected to be entered this morning for the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante at one mile on Saturday.

Sorrento Stakes winner Zoonaqua is the probable favorite in the Debutante, and because she wasn’t an original nominee, she will have to be supplemented for $10,000 by owners Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss. A daughter of Silver Hawk trained by Brian Mayberry, Zoonaqua broke her maiden in her first start, then returned to overcome trouble in winning the Sorrento.

The other probable entrants are Beal Street Blues, a winner by 14 lengths in the Miss Oceana Stakes at Arlington Park; Anybody’s Natural, Best Dress, Fit N Fappy, Medici Bells, Princess Lao and Sweet Mama. Trained by Frank Brothers, Beal Street Blues also will have to be supplemented for $10,000. She worked four furlongs in 47 1/5 on Monday and will be ridden by Gary Stevens.

Shooting for her third consecutive victory in the $56,750 Honey Fox Stakes, Freya Stark had to settle for fourth Wednesday.

Silvered, who hadn’t won a race since 1990, outfinished Fantastic Ways by a neck to win the Honey Fox in 2:15 for the 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye and trained by Richard Cross, the 5-year-old Halo mare was last for six furlongs, then commenced her rally and was up to win for the sixth time in 25 starts. Silvered paid $6.20 as the 2-1 second choice.

Fantastic Ways, who had a length advantage with a furlong to run, finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Campagnarde, the 8-5 favorite.

Gary Stevens had three victories Wednesday. He swept the early double with River Of Green and Good Pocketful, then backed into a victory in the fifth when Gum was disqualified and his mount, C. Sam Maggio, was moved up to first.

Kent Desormeaux had two victories with Irontree in the third and Astrometric Star in the ninth and holds a 53-41 lead over Stevens in the standings.

Desormeaux plans on riding in Maryland later this month.

“I’ll take some time off and then go to Maryland for a couple of weeks (Sept. 24-Oct. 4),” he said, adding he’ll be there for Maryland Million Day.

Morriston Belle, who scratched from Sunday’s Del Mar Oaks, is the 2-1 morning line favorite for today’s feature, the $50,000 Sandy Blue Stakes at one mile on the turf.

Other contenders in the race are Certam De May, Melo Melody, Frenchman’s Cove and Cadillac Women.

There’s a Pick Six carryover for today of more than $99,000.