Overnight for Gulfstream Park Sunshine Millions Races

Ginger Punch & Benny the Bull Top Names in Gulfstream Sunshine Millions
 

            Stronach Stable’s 5-year-old mare Ginger Punch, favorite to be acclaimed an Eclipse champion in her division, and IEAH Stable’s 5-year-old sprint star Benny the Bull are among the most prominent names on the list of 46 horses entered Sunday in the four Sunshine Millions races, worth a total $1.55 million, to be run Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

            Ginger Punch leads a formidable team of California-trained stakes stars due on a Tex Sutton charter flight Wednesday, and she will be the favorite in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff with regular rider Rafael Bejarano also making the trip for the 1 1/8 miles test for trainer Bobby Frankel.

            Jockey Edgar Prado gets the call on Benny the Bull for trainer Rick Dutrow in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at six furlongs in his first start since capturing the DeFrancis Memorial Dash (G1) at Laurel Park on Nov. 24 after a good try when fourth behind Midnight Lute in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Monmouth Park

            Completing the Gulfstream line-up for the Sunshine Millions will be the $500,000 OBS Turf, attracting a wide-open field of 12, including James Scatuorchio’s 7-year-old Icy Atlantic; and a field of 11 3-year-old fillies drawn for the $250,000 Oaks at six furlongs.

Distaff: Bayou Lassie Given Best Chance to Upset Ginger Punch

            Ginger Punch sealed a sensational 2007 campaign with her game performance to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) over a sloppy track at Monmouth Park when coming back along the rail to score by a neck after yielding the lead in midstretch. The Florida homebred daughter of Awesome Again earned more than $1.8 million with an 8-5-2-1 record for the season.

            Ginger Punch will likely be odds-on in a full field of 12 fillies and mares with Jacks or Better Farm’s 5-year-old homebred mare Bayou’s Lassie among those given a chance with jockey Elvis Trujillo aboard for trainer Christophe Clement.

             A daughter of Outflanker, Bayou’s Lassie is highly consistent with a 13-7-3-0 record and has become a solid main track performer after showing her best on turf early in her career. She won a hard-fought neck decision in the Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) at Calder last out on Dec. 29 after losing a photo when second in the My Charmer Handicap (G3) on turf there four weeks before.

            Another California invader with a chance in the Distaff is Gary and Cecil Barber’s 4-year-old filly Curiously Sweet with Javier Castellano aboard for trainer John Sadler, who claimed the daughter of Mud Route out of her debut early last year at Santa Anita for $40,000. Curiously Sweet won her final three starts last year, including the Cat’s Cradle at Hollywood Park on Dec. 21.

            Completing the field for the Distaff are J. Paul Reddam and Rockin BB Ranch’s Peach Flambe, WinStar Farm’s’s Leah’s Secret, Roland Powell’s Saffronista, Tailwind Racing’s Swiss Current, Stable H.M.A.’s Night Power, Kenwood Racing’s Exchanging Fire, Silly Goose Stable’s Prop Me Up, Betty Currin’s Memorette and Paul Pompa, Jr. and Millenium Farm’s Lost Etiquette.

Sprint: ‘Benny’ Faces Bushwacker in East-West Clash

             Benny the Bull is a confirmed stretch-runner who appears to have plenty of speed for a set-up in the Sprint.

One of the speedballs he’ll be facing is Bushwacker, a Florida-bred who has never been better, winning his last two starts for co-owner and trainer Bill Currin. His most recent victory was a wire-to-wire score in the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (G3) at Hollywood Park on Dec. 2.

            Another strong contender will be Rustlewood Farm’s 5-year-old homebred Mach Ride with regular partner Elvis Trujillo getting the return call. Trained by Steve Standridge, the son of Pentelicus ran a big race over the track last out to finish second in the Mr. Prospector Handicap (G3) here on Jan. 5 in his first start since finishing an unlucky fourth in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Sept. 30.

            Completing the field for the Sprint are Harris Farms’ High Standards, Randall Hartley and Dean DeRenzo’s Praying for Cash, Rolbea Thoroughbred Racing’s Finallymadeit, David and Teresa Palmer and Bill Kaplan’s Storm in May, Saud al Saif’s Cobalt Blue, Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ Mr. Umphrey, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Tropic Storm and Millenium Farms’ Santana Strings.

OBS Turf: Icy Atlantic Faces New Challenges

            Icy Atlantic is one of the most recognizable names among the entries for the OBS Turf and was runner-up in the race last year at Santa Anita behind Lava Man, but faces several younger horses that could be division leaders in the future, including Peter Vego’s 4-year-old War Monger.

            John Velazquez rides Icy Atlantic for trainer Todd Pletcher in his first start since finishing ninth behind Kip Deville in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on ‘soft’ turf at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27. Icy Atlantic is a son of Stormy Atlantic who has career earnings of more than $850,000 and scored his last victory in the Red Bank Stakes (G3) at Monmouth in early September.

            Jockey Kent Desormeaux rides War Monger for trainer Bill Mott, who also has Martin Cherry’s 4-year-old Pickapocket entered in the race. War Monger is a homebred son of War Chant that won the Rutgers Stakes on ‘good’ turf at Monmouth on Oct. 24, two days before the Breeders’ Cup, his third victory in just six career starts.

               Completing the field are Henry Lindh and trainer Joe Pierce, Jr.’s French Vintage, Barry Abrams and partners’ Add Heat, Raymond Cottrell, Jr.’s Birdbirdistheword, Herman Heinlein’s Soldier’s Dancer, Harris Farms’ Lucky J.H., James Scatuorchio’s Ruff and Ready, La Canada Stable’s Epic Power, Greg Besinger’s Summer Book and Patricia Generazio’s Presious Passion.

Oaks: Blitzing Invades From New Orleans

The Sunshine Millions races showcase match-ups between horses bred in Florida and California, but the likely favorite for the Oaks will be shipping in from Fair Grounds in Louisiana with jockey Shaun Bridgmohan coming along to ride for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Florida homebred Blitzing could rule the choice after romping home a 7½-length winner of the Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds last out on Dec. 22 for her third victory in five starts. The daughter of Montbrook won her debut at Churchill Downs last spring and finished a close-up third in the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) at Saratoga in her second start.

A definite threat on one of her best days in the Oaks would be Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence’s Phantom Income with Eibar Coa aboard for her first start since an unfortunate run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) when she faded to last of 13. The daughter of Montbrook was a 4¼-length winner of the NATC Futurity for fillies in her previous start at Meadowlands.

Completing the field for the Oaks are Mike Tarp’s American Beauty, Jose Pinchin’s Banga Ridge, Team Valor and Gary Barber’s Sindy Jacobson, Dan and Steve Bell’s Yogi’ssplashofgold, Bill Roberts’ Billie Bob, Circle C Group’s Validain, Patricia Harrington’s Lovehi, Lone Stable’s Cape Cod Lady and Robbies and Emma Racing Stable’s Robbie’s Gal.