Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Sunshine Millions Pits Florida, California Bred Horses
Posted on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
By GREG MELIKOV
The 7th annual Sunshine Millions, a battle of thoroughbreds from Florida and California, features a slew of horses, several full fields and total purse money of nearly $3.6 million.
In the past half-dozen Sunshine Millions, 8 races divided evenly between Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, Florida-breds proved the best each time. Based on a points system for win (5), place (3) and show (1), California-breds have inched closer, losing the last three years 37-35.
Florida-bred entries dominate the contests at both tracks. At Gulfstream, only seven of the 46 entered horses were bred in California. At Santa Anita Park, however, 20 of the 47 entries were bred in Florida.
The richest, and perhaps the most interesting, race on Saturday is the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic for 4-year-olds and up at Gulfstream. The 1 1/8-mile contest will feature a field of 12 headed by Delightful Kiss.
The graded-stakes winner is one of four Florida-breds considered top Sunshine Millions contenders. Although the son of Kissin Kris drew the No. 12 post, he is the likely favorite. The 5-year-old Delightful Kiss rallied from last in the 14-horse Hal’s Hope Handicap on Gulfstream’s opening day to win handily by three lengths under regular jockey Calvin Borel.
A trio of notable 3-year-olds from last season aiming for the winner’s circle includes Macho Uno, runner-up to Big Brown in the Preakness Stakes who last won at 1 1/8 miles in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga in July.
Hey Byrn, seventh in the Preakness, won a mile allowance contest at Gulfstream this month, his first victory since taking the Holy Bull last March. Atoned is coming off a triumph at the distance in his ’08 finale in the Pegasus at the Meadowlands in October.
The best race at Santa Anita could be the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint for 4-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs. It features a field of 11, including top class speedsters like Florida-bred In Summation and Cal-bred Georgie Boy.
In Summation, winner of 10 stakes, has been very effective over the Pro-Ride main track, winning the New Year’s Day El Conejo Handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs for the second consecutive time. The 6-year-old son of Put It Back, In Summation, is 5-2-1 in 10 outings on such synthetic surfaces.
Newly turned 4-year-old Georgie Boy ran third in Santa Anita’s Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs on December 26. Last March, the son of Tribal Rule captured the San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles on the Pro-Ride surface.
Another Florida-bred is going for his seventh victory in a row after scoring in his first graded stakes on December 13 at Calder Race Course. Five-year-old Yesbyjimmy boosted his earnings over $560,000 by winning the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap at 7 furlongs.
Full Sunshine Millions fields will contest the following races:
At Santa Anita, Florida-breds Briecat, Dawn After Dawn and Leah’s Secret will take on Cal-breds Bai and Bai and Spenditallbaby in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. View the Sunshine Millions Field at Santa Anita Park.
At Gulfstream, Cal-bred Mistical Plan challenges Florida-breds High Resolve and Lovely Isle in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint for 4-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs. View the Sunshine Milllions Field at Gulfstream Park.
Tags: Atoned, Bai and Bai, Briecat, Dawn After Dawn, Delightful Kiss, Georgie Boy, Hey Byrn, High Resolve, In Summation, Leah's Secret, Lovely Isle, Macho Uno, Mistical Plan, Spenditallbaby
"Sunshine Millions Pits Florida, California Bred Horses" was posted on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pm and is filed under Gulfstream Park, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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