Longshot Tackleberry Captures Sunshine Millions Classic

by Bodog Racebook | Jan 31 2011

Though touted as a competition for California- and Florida-breds, an entire field of Florida-breds lined up for the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Jan. 29. Among those was Tackleberry, a late-blooming 4-year-old gelding piloted by Javier Santiago, who had won four of his last five races. Sent off as a 27-1 longshot, Tackleberry went straight to the lead for the 1 1/8 mile race upon instructions from trainer Luis Olivares. He was followed closely by odds-on favorite First Dude, with Kent Desormeaux in the irons, until the first turn; amid traffic troubles, Desormeaux checked the 4-year-old son of Stephen Got Even, who never regained his positioning. Then, entering the stretch, Tackleberry had a new challenger: 5-year-old Duke of Mischief, under Eibar Coa. The always consistent Duke of Mischief came at Tackleberry from his stalking position three-wide; however, Tackleberry was able to fend him off and draw clear for the win.

Tackleberry's winning time was 1:48.52.

Following Duke of Mischief to the wire were Dream Maestro (who enjoyed a ground-saving trip but could not catch Duke of Mischief) and First Dude; Dry Martini, Birdrun, Cigar Man, Black Hills and King Ghidorah completed the order of finish.

The front-running Tackleberry took home $275,000 for the victory for owner/trainer Olivares, boosting his career winnings to $487,225. A son of Montbrook, Tackleberry was fourth last out in the Gr. 3 Hal's Hope Stakes also at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 8, a loss that snapped a four-race win streak that included the Gr. 3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder Race Course on Dec. 11.

Duke of Mischief, a 5-year-old trained by David Fawkes, exceeded the $1M mark in career earnings with the $100,000 collected for his runner-up effort. First Dude, however, again failed to break into the winner's circle; the Dale Romans trainee has been winless but top four in seven of his last nine outings.

The Sunshine Millions Classic is part of an annual competition between California- and Florida-breds, with three races taking place at each track on the same day. With over $1M in purse money offered, Sunshine Millions Day attracts stellar competition year after year.

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