Horses bred in California and Florida will square off Saturday in the
eight-race, $3.6 million Sunshine Millions at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.
Each track will host four events, topped by the $1 million Sunshine Millions
Classic at Santa Anita. The Arcadia, California, track will also host the
$500,000
Filly & Mare Turf, $300,000
Filly & Mare Sprint and $250,000
Dash S.
Gulfstream will feature the $500,000
Turf S., $500,000
Distaff S., $300,000
Sprint S. and $250,000
Oaks.
In the 1 1/8-mile Classic, Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner LAVA MAN (Slew City
Slew) is the 3-1 favorite on the morning line. The Doug O’Neill charge has been
freshened off an unplaced finish in the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) in late November
and will break from post 2 with jockey Corey Nakatani in the 12-horse
field. The California-bred gelding finished a close second to Rock Hard Ten in
his last dirt start at Santa Anita, the 2004 Malibu S. (G1).
Other contenders include Santa Anita Derby (G1) victor BUZZARDS BAY (Marco
Bay), who makes his first main track start since finishing a good third in the
Discovery H. (G3) in late October; California Cup Classic winner MCCANN’S MOJAVE
(Memo [Chi]); PROUD TOWER TOO (Proud Irish), who stretches out off an upset
victory in the Malibu in late December; and Florida shippers WHOS CRYING NOW
(Concerto) and SUPERVISOR (Skip Trial).
The complete field, from the rail with riders and morning-line odds, is
TEXCESS (In Excess [Ire]), Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; Lava Man; B. B. BEST (Yes It’s
True), Victor Espinoza, 12-1; Supervisor, Tyler Baze, 5-1; WILD BUDDY (Line in
the Sand), Aaron Gryder, 15-1; Whos Crying Now, Cornelio Velasquez, 5-1; DESERT
BOOM (Boomerang), Roberto Gonzalez, 20-1; SUPER STRUT (Lil Tyler), David Flores,
12-1; Proud Tower Too, David Cohen, 20-1; Buzzards Bay, Garrett Gomez, 4-1;
TRICKEY TREVOR (Demaloot Demashoot), Russell Baze, 15-1; and McCann’s Mojave,
15-1.
Also at Santa Anita, the Filly & Mare Turf has once again attracted
VALENTINE DANCER (In Excess [Ire]), winner of the last two runnings of the 1
1/8-mile affair. The Craig Lewis-trained six-year-old mare must be respected,
but she will be attempting to snap a six-race losing skein. Grade 2 queen MOSCOW
BURNING (Moscow Ballet) is the 2-1 favorite on the morning line. The James
Cassidy charge captured the California Cup Distance H. two starts back over the
turf course and exits a fifth-place finish against much tougher company in the
La Prevoyante H. (G2) at Calder.
The 12 Filly & Mare Turf participants are ECLIPSE WINNER (Event of the Year),
Nakatani, 20-1; Valentine Dancer, Jon Court, 9-2; ALLBOW (Rainbow Blues [Ire]),
Miguel Hernandez, 30-1; MIDWIFE (Family Calling), R. Baze, 20-1; FIRST DRAFT
(Othello), Desormeaux, 20-1; Moscow Burning, Flores; TIGER BELLE (Tiger Ridge),
Javier Santiago, 20-1; VOUS (Wild Rush), Espinoza, 8-1; BENEFICIAL BARTOK (Bartok
[Ire]), Cohen, 12-1; FORMAL MISS (Formal Dinner), Velasquez, 10-1; CHARMSIL
(Silver Charm), Martin Pedroza, 20-1; and BRAVE VIXEN (Formal Gold), Gomez,
20-1.
The Filly & Mare Sprint also features 12 contestants and includes a previous
Sunshine Millions winner, HOT STORM (Stormy Atlantic), who captured the Oaks
last year at Gulfstream Park. The four-year-old filly has shipped west for
trainer Dallas Stewart and will hook some formidable rivals in Grade 1 winners
ALPHABET KISSES (Alphabet Soup) and LEAVE ME ALONE (Bold Badgett), who are both cross-entered in Sunday’s Santa Monica H. (G1). Another
dangerous entrant is WESTERN HEMISPHERE (General Meeting), who enters the
six-furlong test off a sharp 2 1/2-length score in the Kalookan Queen H. at Santa
Anita.
ALLSWELLTHATNSWELL (Perfect Mandate) will break from the innermost post with
jockey Isaias Enriquez and is listed at 15-1 along with entrymate ROYALLY CHOSEN
(In Excess [Ire]). Next in post position order is Hot Storm, Flores, 6-1; ETCH
(Pioneering), Cohen, 15-1; DOUBLE D APPEAL (Successful Appeal), Santiago, 20-1;
ACLEVERSHADEOFJADE (Clever Trick), Gryder, 20-1; Royally Chosen, Court; RUN
REBECCA RUN (Swiss Yodeler), T. Baze, 20-1; THRILLING VICTORY (Event of the
Year), Pedroza, 12-1; Alphabet Kisses, Gomez, 4-1; Leave Me Alone, Desormeaux,
5-2; DA SVEDONYA (Lil Tyler), Felipe Martinez, 20-1; and Western Hemisphere,
Espinoza, 3-1.
The Dash, which features a field of eight three-year-olds at six furlongs, is
one of the most exciting races on the program. Last year’s Dash winner, champion
sprinter Lost in the Fog (Lost Soldier), launched his superb campaign with a
smashing victory at Gulfstream Park, and DA STOOPS (Distorted Humor) will enter
this year’s event at Santa Anita with similar aspirations. The Bob Baffert-trained
colt created a stir with a smashing 8 3/4-length triumph in the California
Breeders’ Champion S. at Santa Anita last out and isn’t being counted out of an
assault on some Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races in the coming months.
However, Da Stoops isn’t the morning-line favorite. Those honors go to
PLAGIARIST (Souvenir Copy), who is listed at 8-5 off a facile 8 3/4-length
victory in his career debut at Hollywood Park in mid-December. The Doug O’Neill
colt will make his stakes bow with Gomez in the saddle. IN SUMMATION (Put It
Back) and CHANGING WEATHER (Storm Boot) add further depth to the race. The
former reeled off five straight victories, including lucrative wins in the
Affirmed and Dr. Fager divisions of the Florida Stallion Series, before
attempting a route in his last two attempts and should appreciate the cutback in
distance. Changing Weather finished second to Private Vow (Broken Vow) in last
year’s seven-furlong Futurity S. (G2).
Da Stoops, who is 2-1 on the early line, heads the post parade with Espinoza.
Next comes DINNER MAGIC (Formal Dinner), Santiago, 15-1; CORAZONDELCAMPEON
(Comic Strip), Alex Bisono, 20-1; RATTLESNAKE JOE (Concerto), Martinez, 20-1;
BRITE MANEUVERS (High Brite), Nakatani, 15-1; Plagiarist; In Summation,
Velasquez, 7-2; and Changing Weather, Flores, 8-1.
At Gulfstream Park, jockey Jerry Bailey will wrap up his Hall of Fame career
aboard SILVER TREE (Hennessy) in the 1 1/8-mile Turf. A Grade 2 hero, the Bill
Mott-trained six-year-old exits a game win in the Tropical Turf H. (G3) at
Calder and finished a good second last year in both the Bernard Baruch H. (G2)
and Fourstardave H. (G2). Silver Tree is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the
14-horse field, which includes two also-eligibles.
Other turf contenders include WILLOW O WISP (Misnomer), winner of the Del Mar
Derby (G2), La Jolla H. (G2) and Cinema Breeders’ Cup H. (G3); Silky Sullivan H.
(G3) victor and Oak Tree Derby (G2) runner-up EASTERN SAND (Line in the Sand);
and the Todd Pletcher-trained ICY ATLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic).
MIESQUE’S APPROVAL (Miesque’s Son), who is listed at 12-1 with Eddie Castro
up, will lead the post parade and be followed by STORMY ROMAN (Future Storm),
Mike Smith, 20-1; GIN AND SIN (Go for Gin), Javier Castellano, 12-1; Silver
Tree; Eastern Sand, Edgar Prado, 8-1; DREAM ON DREAM ON (Untuttable), Juan Leyva,
15-1; Willow O Wisp, Pat Valenzuela, 6-1; NIGHT DASH (Vaudeville), Chris DeCarlo,
30-1; CAPTAIN SQUIRE (Flying Chevron), Alex Solis, 4-1; WE ALL LOVE ALEYNA
(Nines Wild), Rafael Bejarano, 5-1; TOUCHED BY MADNESS (Sword Dance [Ire]),
Shaun Bridgmohan, 30-1; and Icy Atlantic, John Velazquez, 8-1. The also-eligibles,
both with 30-1 morning-line odds, are BALLONENOSTRIKES (Lost Soldier) with Jose
Lezcano and BE MY BUDDY (Belong to Me) with Brice Blanc.
Last year’s Distaff winner SWEET LIPS (Kris S.) will defend her title against
eight challengers on Saturday. An upset winner at 12-1 last year, the Bobby
Frankel-trained mare hasn’t won any of her three starts since then but did
record a good second in the La Canada S. (G2). She faces a couple of top
contenders in DREAM OF SUMMER (Siberian Summer) and HOUSE OF FORTUNE (Free
House).
Winner of the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and second in the Santa Margarita
Invitational H. (G1) during the first half of 2005, Dream of Summer finished the
season in fine fashion, winning the California Cup Matron S. and recording a
second in the Bayakoa H. (G2). Multiple Grade 2 heroine House of Fortune exits a
victory in the Cat’s Cradle H. in early December.
The field, from inside out, for the 1 1/8-mile Distaff is House of Fortune,
Valenzuela, 5-2; SPECIAL REPORT (Notebook), Castro, 8-1; SNUG HARBOUR (Boston
Harbor), Castellano, 20-1; PITANGA (Halo’s Image), Bejarano, 20-1; AMERICAN MISS
(Ameri Valay), Lezcano, 15-1; SECRET CORSAGE (Lost Soldier), Bailey, 8-1; Dream
of Summer, Velazquez, 8-5; Sweet Lips, Prado, 4-1; and FORMAL LADY (Formal
Dinner), Rajiv Maragh, 30-1.
Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) victor BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) is a slight 3-1
favorite on the Sprint morning line over the 4-1 MISTER FOTIS (Diligence), who
exits a visually impressive 6 3/4-length triumph in the Kenny Noe Jr. H. Other
threats in the six-furlong test, which drew 13 runners, include Tom Fool H. (G2)
winner SMOKUME (Smoke Glacken), Amsterdam S. (G2) conqueror SANTANA STRINGS
(Wheaton) and WinStar Derby king THOR’S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler), who gets a rider
switch to Bailey.
The complete field is AREYOUTALKINTOME (Smokester), Velazquez, 6-1; Thor’s
Echo, 10-1; NIGHTMARE AFFAIR (Out of Place), Bejarano, 8-1; ALL HAIL STORMY
(Stormy Atlantic), Castellano, 20-1; HALO SAILING SAIN (Halo’s Image), DeCarlo,
30-1; Bordonaro, Valenzuela; Mister Fotis, Prado; TACIRRING (End Sweep), Roberto
Alvarado Jr., 12-1; Santana Strings, Bridgmohan, 12-1; VALID VIDEO (Valid
Wager), Lezcano, 12-1; BUSHWACKER (Outflanker), Solis, 30-1; RED WARRIOR
(Benchmark), Castro, 20-1; and Smokume, Shannon Uske, 6-1.
A full field of 14 sophomore fillies is set for the six-furlong Oaks. KNIGHTS
TEMPLAR (Exploit), who set the pace in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)
before fading to sixth, will attract support, and Sorrento S. (G2) winner BULLY
BONES (Hesabull), who has shipped into South Florida off a smashing 10
1/2-length tally in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies S. at Turf Paradise, is another
top contender.
Bully Bones, who is 4-1 on the early line, will lead the post parade with
Tony Farina. Next comes SWAP FLIPAROO (Exchange Rate), Andrew Lakeman, 6-1;
LIZZY’S TOWNSHIP (Delaware Township), Bridgmohan, 12-1; Knights Templar, Castro,
7-2; RUNNING LASS (Running Stag), Bejarano, 20-1; BETTARUN FAST (Kelly Kip),
Valenzuela, 10-1; PEACH FLAMBE (Flying Chevron), Castellano, 12-1; FIFTH AVENUE
(Monarchos), Prado, 12-1; A SEA TRIPPI (Trippi), Smith, 20-1; LAKE ALICE (Mt.
Livermore), Kristi Chapman, 30-1; JOINT EFFORT (Runaway Groom), Guidry, 6-1;
HOME ALONA (Game Plan), Elvis Trujillo, 20-1; WINDY (Wild Rush), Solis, 12-1;
and DEVONS SMOKIN (Devon Lane), Velazquez, 15-1.