Gulfstream Park with the Sunshine Millions Picks
Soak Up the Sun at Gulfstream Park with the Sunshine Millions
If you’re tired of the rain and gloom of winter, perhaps a trip to Florida is in order! Gulfstream Park is the place to be this January with highs in the 80s and the Sunshine Millions series to warm us up for another great year of racing.
The Sunshine Millions will consist of four graded stakes to be held on Saturday, January 19th:
$200,000 Sunshine Millions Classic – 1 1/8 miles – 4 & Up
$150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf – 1 1/16 miles – 4 & Up
$150,000 Sunshine Millions Fillies and Mare Turf – 4 & Up Fillies & Mares
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint – 6 furlongs – 4 & Up
The Sunshine Millions series is for Florida-bred horses four years of age and older. The series used to be held in conjunction to Sunshine Millions races held at Santa Anita Park in California, but was revamped in 2012 to feature only Florida-bred horses at Gulfstream Park. The series was created by Frank Stronach of the Stronach Group.
Three Florida-bred defending champions are the top nominations for the Sunshine Millions this weekend. Let’s take a look at these three top contenders.
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Owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds and trained by Armando De La Cerda, JAY’S WAY is the winner of the 2018 Sunshine Millions Classic and is among the 15 nominees for this year’s Classic. Jay’s Way is by Gone Astray.
XY JET
…is a multiple graded stakes winner and romped to the win in the 2018 Sprint. He also won the Sprint in 2016. He has won four of five starts including a 2 ¼ length win in the Smile Sprint (G3). The 8-year-old’s only loss came in a photo-finish in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan. A son of Kantharos, the 7-year-old is owned by Gelfenstein Farm and Rockingham Ranch and trained by Jorge Navarro.
Co-owned and trained by Kevin Attard, STARSHIP JUBILEE won the Filly and Mare Turf last year by a length. A multiple graded stakes winner, she won the Canadian (G2) at Woodbine. She was upset last time out in the Claiming Crown Tiara in December over the Gulfstream turf course.
In addition to these title defenders, there are five other horses to watch including MR. JORDAN, who finished a half-length behind Jay’s Way in last year’s Classic. Mr. Jordan is another son of Kantharos and is owned by Laurie Plesa and David Melin and trained by Edward Plesa, Jr.
WORLD OF TROUBLE
…was a close second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and has been nominated for the Classic, the Sprint and the Turf. He also won the FSS Marion County Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on a sloppy track by 13 lengths. World of Trouble is owned by Michael Dubb and trained by Jason Servis. The four-year-old is also a son of Kantharos.
PICARA and SOUTHERN SIS finished 1-2 in the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview at Gulfstream Park West. They are set to dual again in the real deal. Picara is owned by P and G Stable and trained by Franscisco D’Angelo. Southern Sis is a daughter of Kantharos, trained by Mark E. Casse and owned by Bill and Vicki Poston Racing, Inc.
CLASS AND CASH is another nominee to the Turf that will be looking to set the pace. Class and Cash is a 7-year-old trained by Jane Cibelli and owned by Edward J. Short.
Check back later this week as we update this article with expert Gulfstream Park picks from Guaranteed Tip Sheet for the upcoming Sunshine Millions.