Original Article from Daily Racing Form

Star Harbour was haltered for $35,000 this summer at Saratoga by trainer Bob Dibona for the Marco Thoroughbred Corp. Dibona had to win a five-way shake to get Star Harbour, who won that afternoon by a dozen lengths and finished third six weeks later in Belmont Park’s Duck Dance overnight stakes.

Star Harbour turned in a sharp 58.22-second, five-furlong workout here Nov. 30 in preparation for the Sunshine State, a Florida-bred stakes Dibona said he’s been pointing for since his arrival here last month.

With leading rider Paco Lopez aboard, Star Harbour sprinted to the lead, as expected, while joined early by longshot Cat Five Hurricane. Star Harbour easily disposed of Cat Five Hurricane after a half-mile, settled into the stretch with a clear advantage, then held sway despite tiring some near the end.

Jackson Bend, a two-time Grade 1 winner, raced wide and rallied mildly to out finish Bahamian Squall for second. The latter, making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, broke a bit flatfooted, moved into close contention on the final turn, but was unable to kick on through the stretch.

Cat Five Hurricane took a bad step while retreating on the turn, pulled up, and was vanned off after the race.

Star Harbour, a 5-year-old son of Indian Charlie, completed seven furlongs over a very fast track in 1:21.55 and paid $5.20.

“It’s very exciting to claim a horse and be able to run at this kind of level,” Dibona said. “You can pay a million dollars and not get a horse like this. He’s happy, he likes it here, he’s fast, and they’re going to have to deal with him.”

Dibona said Star Harbour would make his next start in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint on Jan. 18. Star Harbour finished a tiring fifth as the favorite in the 2012 Sunshine Millions Sprint.

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Zero Rate Policy, a Florida-bred son of Trippi, stalked the early pace of Our Edge under jockey Paco Lopez, gained command in early stretch, and then withstood a belated final surge from Manicero to register the second stakes victory of his career. Zero Rate Policy, who had never been beyond six furlongs in eight previous starts, also won Monmouth Park’s Rumson in June.

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Manicero, turning back to a sprint off a series of two- turn races at Calder, dropped near the rear of the pack during the early stages of the Sunshine State while racing far behind the leaders. A seven-time stakes winner, Manicero angled to the outside leaving the final turn and finished full of run but could not catch the winner. It’s Never to Late, winner of the first edition of the restricted Sunshine State decided earlier this year, rallied mildly to finish third.

Zero Rate Policy is trained by Terri Pompay for owners William Lawrence and the Klaravich Stables. He paid $6.40 as the tepid favorite in a field of nine Florida-breds.

“I really liked this horse today,” said Pompay. “He’s been training great, improving all the time and I didn’t think the seven furlongs would bother him.”

Pompay said she has nothing specific picked out for Zero Rate Policy’s next start but hinted the Florida Sunshine Millions Sprint on Jan. 26 could be an option.

“There are so many spots for a horse like this down here during the winter and one thing we do know is that he loves this track,” said Pompay.

Jockey Jose Lezcano said Manicero didn’t like the dirt hitting him in the face during the early stages of the race.

“He had a little trouble in the gate and didn’t break that sharp, then when the dirt started hitting him in the face he started to back up even more,” said Lezcano. “Once we got to the quarter pole, he just took off but we ran out of room.”

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