“We are extremely pleased with the large number of pre-entered horses,” said Santa Anita Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle.  “We have 72 horses pre-entered to run here at Santa Anita and 64 have pre-entered to run at Gulfstream.  We’re confident we’re going to have full fields in eight races”

            The $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic, for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, will highlight the four-race Sunshine program at Santa Anita.  Millionaire McCann’s Mojave, an 8-year-old California-bred son of Memo, will defend his Classic title and will again be ridden by Frank Alvarado.  Trained by Steve Specht, McCann’s Mojave worked a mile at Golden Gate Fields this morning in 1:38.20.  “Alvarado worked him and he went super,” said Specht.  “He went off easy, I had him in 50 and change the first half and he came home the last quarter mile in 23 and three.  He’s ready.”

            A total of 26 horses were pre-entered for the Classic, which will be limited to 12 horses.  By virtue of their graded stakes earnings for 2007, the top six Florida-breds are  Buzzard’s Bay, Diamond Stripes, Electrify, Go Between, Going Ballistic and Gotcha Gold.  Other prominent Florida-breds who were pre-entered but are not guaranteed starting positions are Iamawildandcrazyguy, Summer Book and Sweetnorthernsaint.

            In addition to McCann’s Mojave, other California-breds who are expected to start are Bilo, a Gr. I stakes winner who, at the age of 8, has never routed and will make his first start for trainer Mike Mitchell, Bold Chieftain, Celtic Dreamin, Freesgood, and Now Victory, who defeated McCann’s Mojave at 1 1/16 miles in the Dec. 26 Forty Niner Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.  Now Victory, who was ridden in his last start by Russell Baze, will be handled by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

            The filly Nashoba’s Key, who also was pre-entered in the Classic, will likely run instead in the $500,000 Filly and Mare Turf which attracted 12 pre-entries, according to her trainer Carla Gaines.  “We’re going to look at both races, but most likely she’s going to run on the grass.  She’s undefeated on the grass here and it’s a $500,000 race, so it’s probably the obvious spot at this stage.”  The Filly and Mare Turf will be run at 1 1/8 miles and is for 4-year-olds and up.

            A dozen distaffers were pre-entered and among those who figure to face Nashoba’s Key are Quite a Bride, a 4-year-old Florida-bred filly by Stormy Atlantic, and the Florida-bred Placid Lake, who is trained locally by Vladimir Cerin.

            The $300,000 Filly and Mare Sprint will also be run at Santa Anita and it attracted 19 pre-entries.  Last year’s winner, the Don Chatlos conditioned Shaggy Mane, will defend her title at six furlongs.  Dearest Trickski, a Florida-bred who has risen from the claiming ranks to win the Gr. I La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 29, is likely to run for trainer John Sadler.  The Filly and Mare Sprint is for 4-year-olds and up.

            Santa Anita will also host the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash at six furlongs.  Georgie Boy, a California-bred gelding by Tribal Rule, has been idle since winning the Gr. I Del Mar Futurity and is expected to run for trainer Kathy Walsh.  A total of 15 horses were pre-entered in the Dash, which is for 3-year-olds.

            The Sunshine Millions, which was created in 2003 by Magna Entertainment Chairman Frank Stronach, will be televised live on ESPN 2 from 5  p.m. to 6 p.m., EST. 

            The four Sunshine Millions races to be run concurrently from Gulfstream Park are the $500,000 Distaff for 4-year-old fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, the $500,000 Turf for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, the $300,000 Sprint for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs and the $250,000 Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.