Sunshine Millions Preview, Santa Anita Park

by Patricia Woo | Jan 19 2009

Last week, Bodog Racebook previewed the four races that will be run at Gulfstream Park on Sunshine Millions Day, an eight-race competition between two of the best Thoroughbred breeding states in the nation, Florida and California. This week, we are taking a closer look at the four races that will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.: the Sunshine Millions Turf, the Distaff, the Sprint and the Oaks.

Sunshine Millions Turf, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up, $500,000 purse

Florida-bred turf specialist Presious Passion will be taking another crack at the Sunshine Millions Turf race. He finished ninth in 2008, but a year has made a huge difference in this racehorse. In May 2008, he won his first Grade 1 in an upset – the $750,000 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park – and most recently defended his title at Calder Race Course in December in the $150,000 Gr. 2 W.L. McKnight Handicap. Trainer Mary Hartmann is chalking up Presious Passion's two back-to-back sixth-place finishes in December to wet track conditions, and with the weather looking favorable for Saturday's race, Presious Passion may surprise the horse racing world once again.

Sunshine Millions Distaff, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, $500,000 purse

California-breds have the starring roles in the Sunshine Millions Distaff and include Lethal Heat and Bai and Bai. Lethal Heat grabbed the spotlight in 2008 with multiple stakes wins, most notably the $150,000 Gr. 2 Hollywood Oaks in June and the $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes in August where she set a track record. And Bai and Bai will be going into the Sunshine Millions Distaff off an impressive win in the $75,000 Cat's Cradle Handicap; trainer Craig Dollase has said the Distaff will be the 5-year-old's final start of her career. Romance is Diane and Spenditallbaby are also among the top contenders.

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

The feature event of Santa Anita's race-day card will be the Sunshine Millions Sprint, which has attracted several grade-1 winners – but unfortunately for horse racing fans, Cost of Freedom will not be in the starting gate. Dogged by unsatisfactory veterinary inspections, Cost of Freedom's career path is now uncertain, according to trainer John Sadler: "We're going on to other plans… I don't know what we'll do." Among those grade-1 winners who are expected include 2007 Del Mar Futurity winner Georgie Boy, 2007 Malibu Stakes winner Johnny Eves, and repeat El Conejo Handicap champ In Summation.

Sunshine Millions Oaks, 6 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies, $250,000 purse

Frolic's Dream tops the list of contenders in the Sunshine Millions Oaks. Coming off her first loss in the $100,000 Gr. 3 Old Hat Stakes on Jan. 4, the Martin Wolfson trainee had previously boasted a three-race unbeaten streak at Calder Race Course. Fifth in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf event, Emmy Darling, trained by John Sadler, is also one to watch.

Don't miss out on Sunshine Millions Day! Bet on your top Sunshine Millions contenders at the Bodog Racebook.