Ginger Punch eclipses Sunshine Millions Distaff; Go Between stars in Classic

Ginger Punch has her ears pricked as she stamps her authority on the Sunshine Millions Distaff (Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos.com)

Recently named champion older mare GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) made her return to the
races a winning one when drawing off late to take Saturday’s $500,000
Sunshine Millions
Distaff by 6 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park, one of eight lucrative events
pitting Florida-breds versus California-breds. The Bobby Frankel
trainee rated along the rail while third in the early going, edged closer
approaching the final turn, confronted pacesetter Peach Flambe (Flying Chevron)
at the top of the lane and cruised home from there under Rafael Bejarano. The
talented Florida-bred wrapped up 1 1/8 miles over the fast main oval in 1:49 to
make good on her 1-5 odds. The five-year-old chestnut mare returned $2.60, $2.40 and $2.10
while keying the $1 gimmicks: $14.50 exacta, $92.70 trifecta and $1,019.50
superfecta (2-1-10-4).

“I had no anxious moments, but horses aren’t machines,” owner-breeder Frank
Stronach said. “You always pray. You can’t take it (winning) for granted. She
seemed to come out of the race fine, and the jock said he never used the whip.”

Peach Flambe held a clear edge while carving out splits of :22 4/5, :46 and
1:10 1/5 for the opening six panels. The five-year-old chestnut held well in the
lane to keep the place at 42-1, paying $18.40 and $10 in the process. Memorette
(Memo [Chi]) closed from next-to-last to gain the black-type placing at nearly
11-1, worth $5.20 to show. Saffronista (Ecton Park) charged home from last to cap the
super at 94-1 and was followed by Bayou’s Lassie (Outflanker), Breeders’ Cup contestant
Prop Me Up (Reparations), Swiss Current (Swiss Yodeler), Lost Etiquette (Lost Soldier),
Leah’s Secret (Tiger Ridge), Night Power (Benchmark) and Exchanging Fire
(Exchange Rate). Curiously Sweet (Mud Route) scratched.

Once known as a classy turf performer, Go Between is now two-for-two on synthetic tracks (Benoit Photo)

The Florida-bred GO BETWEEN (Point Given) gave owner/breeder Peter Vegso his second lucrative
win of the day when he circled the field turning for home and drove clear to a
two-length victory in the $1 million

Sunshine Millions Classic over the Cushion Track at Santa Anita. Trained by
Bill Mott, who saddled a trio of Sunshine Millions winners on the day, the
five-year-old was rated well off the wicked early pace of :22 3/5, :45 and 1:08.
Go Between inhaled his foes when asked by Garrett Gomez, going five-wide into
the stretch
prior to finishing off the 1 1/8 miles in a track-record 1:45 3/5. The 5-1 second
choice paid $12, $6.60 and $4.60.

Celtic Dreamin (Game Plan) was also well back early but rallied in between
horses turning for home and was clearly second best on this occasion. The
runner-up, who finished 6 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest foe, paid $9.80 and
$6.20 at 11-1 and completed the $69.80 exacta ($1). Seminole Native (Lil Tyler)
was ninth at the top of the lane but rallied well to gain the show spot, worth
$10.20 for the 27-1 shot. The $1 trifecta came back $934.90, and the $1
superfecta was a healthy $3,979.50 (9-5-7-1) when 2-1 choice Diamond Stripes
(Notebook) notched fourth another neck back. Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay) was fifth
and followed by pacesetter Bilo (Bertrando), Bold Chieftain (Chief Seattle),
Electrify (Delaware Township), Gottcha Gold (Coronado’s Quest), defending
champion McCann’s Mojave
(Memo [Chi]), Now Victory (Sharp Victor) and Going Ballistic (Lite the Fuse),
who was eased late. The also-eligible Better Than Bonds (Sweetsouthernsaint) was
withdrawn, along with Joy’s Comet
(Comet Shine).