Sunshine Millions Preview, Gulfstream Park

by Patricia Woo | Jan 13 2009

On Jan. 24, 2009, two of the best Thoroughbred breeding states - Florida and California - will go head-to-head in the seventh annual Sunshine Millions. It is a bicoastal competition held on the same day at two different racetracks – at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. – which will showcase Thoroughbreds from both states in a series of eight races. Last year, Florida-breds hit the wire first all but once, and this year they are again looking like the ones to beat. Here is part one of our Sunshine Millions preview, a look at the four races that will be hosted by Gulfstream Park and their top contenders.

Sunshine Millions Classic, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles, $1M purse

Last year’s Sunshine Millions Classic winner Go Between is again slated to take on other older horses in this million-dollar event. The Bill Mott-trained Florida-bred 6-year-old will be facing expected starters Macho Again, who was runner-up in the 2008 Preakness Stakes, Delightful Kiss, who won the recent Hal’s Hope Handicap at Gulfstream Park and Dry Martini, who finished off a mediocre 2008 with a third-place finish in the Queens County Handicap.

Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles (turf), $500,000 purse

California-bred Lethal Heat and Florida-bred Bsharpsonata are among those expected to face off in this turf event. Four-year-old Lethal Heat kicked off her 2009 campaign with a show finish in the Monrovia Handicap and is adept on synthetic surfaces as well as turf. Bsharpsonata, now under the supervision of trainer Todd Pletcher, is scheduled to make her debut as a 4-year-old in the Filly & Mare Turf after ending 2008 with a third-place finish in the La Brea Stakes. Also among the top contenders is My Princess Jess, a promising 4-year-old trained by Barclay Tagg.

Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint, 4-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs, $300,000 purse

2008 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint champion and Florida-bred Dearest Trickski is scheduled to defend her title this year; look for her to try to get away cleanly right from the gate as she did in 2008, as few can match her early speed. Among those expected to stand in her way is the Bobby Frankel-trained Lovely Isle, who beat Dearest Trickski in the recent Kalookan Queen Handicap earlier this January.

Sunshine Millions Dash, 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs, $250,000 purse

The Sunshine Millions Dash boasts the most nominations across the board with 50, and includes Florida-bred speedster Backbackbackgone, who won the Golden Bear Stakes on Jan. 1 in his 2009 debut for trainer Peter Miller. Another Florida-bred, Kelly Leak, will be looking to put his disqualification in the 2008 Best Pal Stakes behind him with a better result in the Sunshine Millions Dash.

Next week, we’ll preview the top contenders in the four races to be held concurrently at Santa Anita Park in part two of our look at Sunshine Millions Day.

In the meantime, get all your horse racing odds in the Bodog Racebook!