Florida-bred stakes winners Macho Again, Dry Martini, Duke of Mischief and Palladio were among the 31 horses nominated to the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, a nine-furlong race that pits Florida-breds against California-breds at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 30.
The Sunshine Millions will feature three races at Santa Anita and three more at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30. Two races were eliminated for 2010, and the total value of the races was reduced from $3.6 million this year to $1.8 million in 2010.
Macho Again, bred by Milan Kosanovich at Broken Back Farm in Ocala, had a steller 4-year-old season in 2009, capturing the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs and the New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds before finishing second in both the Whitney Handicap (G1) and the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. He finished seventh behind Florida-bred It’s a Bird in the 2009 Sunshine Millions Classic.
Dry Martini, bred by Marty and Carol Hershe at Turtle Pond Farm in Williston, finished second in the 2009 Classic. He went on to win the Suburban Handicap (G2) and the $65,000 Three Coins Up Stakes at Belmont Park this year. Dry Martini also was nominated to the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, a nine-furlong race to be run at Gulfstream Park.
Duke of Mischief, bred by Marilyn McMaster, won the $250,000 Iowa Derby by five lengths at Prairie Meadows in June.
Palladio, bred and owned by Ocala’s Haras Santa Maria de Araras operation, won the $147,965 Autumn Stakes at Woodbine last month to get within $40,000 of the million-dollar mark in career earnings.
Among the top nominees for the Sunshine Millions Turf are Florida-breds Soldier’s Dancer and Presious Passion, a pair of millionaires who finished first and second in last year’s edition.
Soldier’s Dancer, bred by Franks Farm, won the $250,000 PTHA President’s Cup at Philadelphia Park for the second straight year in September before capturing the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup at Calder in November.
Presious Passion finished a disappointing fifth while seeking a third straight victory in the W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder on Saturday. Prior to that, he finished second behind defending champion Conduit in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. The gelding was bred by Joseph and Helen Barbazon at Pleasant Acres Farm in Morriston.
Gulfstream Park also will host the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff, which covers nine furlongs, and the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint, which spans six furlongs. Santa Anita will host the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf going nine furlongs and the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint at six furlongs.
Among the nominees for the Distaff was Florida-bred Sweet Repent, who won the $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) at Calder on Saturday for her fourth straight victory.
Florida-bred Crown of Thorns, who finished second behind Dancing in Silks in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last month, was nominated to the Sunshine Millions Sprint but might not run in the race because of a severe throat ulcer. Dancing in Silks also was nominated, as were stakes-winning Florida-breds Pashito the Che, This Ones for Phil and Accredit.
Florida-bred Century Park, who won the $75,000 California Cup Distance Handicap at Santa Anita in October, is among the top horses nominated for the Filly and Mare Turf.
Florida-bred Dubai Majesty, the winner of the $116,700 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland in October, was among the leading nominees for the Filly and Mare Sprint.
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– Photo of Florida-bred Macho Again by Reed Palmer
