The Sunshine Millions, a creation of Frank Stronach's Magna Entertainment, is a series of eight races restricted to horses bred in California and Florida, with four races each contested at Magna's premier winter tracks, Santa Anita and Gulfstream. Despite being restricted, these races draw large competitive fields with some very good horses each year. The crowd at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale enjoyed sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's, with a fast main track and firm turf course.
$1 million Sunshine Millions Classic is the highliht event of the day, and featrued a field of 12 older horses going 1 1/8 miles, one complete lap of the Gulfstream main track. Delightful Kiss was sent off as the 2-1 favorite exiting a victory in the Hal's Hope Stakes. 6-1 Finallymadeit battled for the lead with 11-1 It's a Bird through fractions of 23.78, 48.08, and 1:12.56 while Delightful Kiss sat at the back of the field early. Turning for home, Finallymadeit tired allowing It's a Bird to open up a 3 length lead by mid-stretch. 4-1 Dry Martini and Delightful Kiss rallied late from well off the pace but It's a Bird cruised under the line 5 1/4 lengths in front in 1:49.35. A blanket finish ensued for place, with Dry Martini finishing second by a nose over Delightful Kiss, in turn a neck in front of 48-1 longshot Dream Maestro fourth.
Winning rainer Martin Wolfson added, I wanted to be close to the pace right from the start. Finallymadeit was the one I was afraid of, but I knew once my horse got by him I knew he'd get stronger and stronger." Jockey Julien Leparoux added, "We got the perfect race. We kept it nice for him and he did the rest. He got stronger as the race went on."
In the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, a field of 8 older fillies and mares went 1 1/8 miles on the turf with the rail set 60 feet out. Wild Promises was sent off as the 7-10 choice, coming into the race off a 5-race win streak, all in stakes, including the My Charmer last out. 11-1 Elusive Lady and 28-1 Julia Tuttle contested the early pace of 23.80, 47.70, and 1:11.93 over the firm course, with Wild Promises stalking them in third the whole way. At the 1/8 pole, Wild Promises easily passed the pacesetters to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths over Elusive Lady in 1:47.82. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 18-1 Snow Cone third.
Winning trainer Greg Gilchrist said, "The race set up perfectly. I figured someone would get anxious and she just tracked them. I knew she didn't need the lead." Jockey Aaron Gryder added, "I wasn't worried about having the lead because I knew we would get an opportunity to get in there. I just sneaked in behind Edgar (Prado on Julia Tuttle) and got myself a nice spot. She really made her move at the 1/2 mile pole, I never felt any pressure. How could you with a horse like this?"
The $300,000 Hill 'N' Dale Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint saw a field of 12 distaffers go 6 furlongs on the main track. Lovely Isle was the 5-2 choice on the toteboard, exiting a victory in the Kalookan Queen Handicap at Santa Anita. Jockey Robby Albarado sent 6-1 High Resolve to the front and she set a pace of 22.08 and 45.22 while being stalked by Lovely Isle the whole way. At the top of the lane, High Resolve kicked clear, opening up a 2 1/2 length lead in midstretch after 5f in 57.56. 7-1 Dubai Majesty rallied from 8th to pass the tiring Lovely Isle but High Resolve finished 2 1/4 lengths in front in 1:10.55. It was 3 lengths back from Dubai Majesty to beaten favorite Lovely Isle.
Winning trainer Greg Gilchrist said, "I was confident. Her last two races at Santa Anita (second in stakes races) are probably better than most people realize. She kept getting hooked on the lead."
The first stakes race on Saturday's card at Gulfstream was the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash at 6 furlongs. Birdonawire Stakes winner You Luckie Mann was the 6-5 choice in the field of 10 three-year-olds, exiting a runner-up finish in the Spectacular Bid. You Luckie Mann battled for the lead with 7-1 Ju Jitsu Jax through a quarter in 22.23 and a half in 44.96, while being stalked by 12-1 This Ones For Phil. Turning for home, This Ones For Phil came out four wide to pass the pacesetters. Through the stretch, This Ones For Phil opened up to win by 2 1/4 lengths over You Luckie Mann in 1:09.10. It was a long 5 1/4 lengths back to 6-1 Kelly Leak third.
Winning trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said, "That horse ran huge. The Fountain of Youth is around one turn (at 1 mile) five weeks from now. That should fit him good."
