Santa Anita & Gulfstream Sunshine Millions Horse Racing Odds
by Patricia Woo | Jan 25 2010
For the eighth year, Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park will host some of the top Florida- and California-bred racehorses in head-to-head competition on a single day. The Sunshine Millions has become a showcase for these two top Thoroughbred breeding states, and on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, horses from both states will compete in six races – three at each racetrack – for a chance at purses totaling $1.8M.
GULFSTREAM PARK
Sunshine Millions Sprint: 6F, 4-year-olds and up, $200,000
Florida-bred This Ones for Phil stormed to the forefront of the road to the 2009 Kentucky Derby with his shocking victory in the Sunshine Millions Dash last year. Though he would go on to lose four straight before closing out the year with a win in an allowance race at Laurel Race Course in November, this Rick Dutrow, Jr., trainee is expected back for a chance at a repeat victory. Also nominated: John Sadler's Florida-bred Machismo and Michael Maker's Florida-bred Accredit.
Sunshine Millions Distaff: 1 1/16M, F&M 4 years old and up, $300,000
Florida-breds will be well-represented by Sweet Repent, who is trained by J. David Braddy. Winner of her last four straight, including three stakes races, this 4-year-old will be among the top contenders. Also nominated: Florida-breds Granted Tiger (H. Allen Jerkens), Even Road (Stanley Ersoff) and Amazing (Brian Lynch).
Sunshine Millions Turf: 1 1/8M (T), 4-year-olds and up, $300,000
Even without the highly-anticipated rematch between last year's top two finishers, Soldier's Dancer and Presious Passion (who is being pointed to the Gr. 2 Mac Diarmida instead), the Sunshine Millions Turf should be an excellent race. Soldier's Dancer, trained by David Vivian, is a 6-year-old Florida-bred who charged from the back of the pack to win the 2009 edition of this race. 2009 Surburban Handicap winner Dry Martini and California-bred Acclamation have been nominated as well (but may turn up in the Classic at Santa Anita Park).
SANTA ANITA PARK
Sunshine Millions F&M Sprint: 6F, F&M 4 years old and up, $200,000
Florida-bred Dubai Majesty, trained by Bret Calhoun, is among the top contenders for the Filly & Mare Sprint; along her three wins in 2009 was the $100,000 Gr. 3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs in May. Also nominated: Florida-bred High Resolve (Greg Gilchrist), and California-bred Pretty Unusual (Barry Abrams), who rallied for first in the $150,000 Gr. 2 El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 17.
Sunshine Millions F&M Turf: 1 1/8M (T), F&M 4 years old and up, $300,000
Century Park leads the Florida-bred nominations in the F&M Turf; the 4-year-old Bob Baffert trainee won the $75,000 California Cup Distance Handicap in October at Santa Anita Park in October and began her 2010 campaign with a seventh-place loss in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap on Jan. 2. California-bred You Lift Me Up (Jerry Hollendorfer) and Saucey Evening (Graham Motion) have also been nominated.
Sunshine Millions Classic: 1 1/8M, 4-year-olds and up, $500,000
Macho Again, trained by Dallas Stewart, is the front-runner for the Sunshine Millions Classic, leading the Florida-bred contingent. The 5-year-old's most notable win of 2009 was the $600,000 Gr. 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June; he will be looking to redeem a seventh-place finish in this race last year. David Fawkes' Duke of Mischief, who won the $100,000 Gr. 3 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10 has also been nominated, along with California-bred The Usual Q.T. (James Cassidy), who is on an impressive six-race win streak.
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