The Sunshine Millions Classic

The Sunshine Millions Classic $1,000,000 GP 1 1/8 4 & up Fla. & Cal. Breds.

The one million dollar Sunshine Millions Classic looks like a race that someone might try to win by changing tactics. The race looks to have little or no pace. So someone may try to cash in on one of the oldest angles in racing: lone speed.

Unless On Board Again draws in, Finallymadeit, 2 for 2 at the distance, is the horse that best fits that role. He will go to the front and his draw of post one will also aid him in carrying his speed by allowing him a ground saving trip. Famous Patriot seems the one most likely to try to keep him honest but I think it unlikely that he presses enough to cause Finallymadeit to wilt. Hey Byrn may also be close but if he is I give him no chance to finish. I do expect soft fractions and for Finallymadeit to hang around for a small piece at the end.

However, if On Board Again draw’s in I think there will be enough pace that Finallymadeit will finish out of the money. On Board Again will definitely keep the race honest, as a matter of fact he is fast enough that he may inherit the front in the run down the backside. If he does lookout! Since his October 29th race he has been working extremely well and steadily. The only work he missed was after a bullet in his first work at Gulfstream. Perhaps he did a little too much that day or simply had a cough. In any event he got right back to work and has a great series of 5 and 6f works. If he hasn’t a bottom in him no horse does. He’s improving, he’s fresh, he’s fast, he’s got Johnny V. up and Frankel training him…he’s ready. If he runs I think he wins.

The horse he will have to beat is Delightful Kiss. This horse is a real treasure-trove for Pete Anderson. He has become ultra-consistent in the last six months. My concerns before his win in the Hal’s Hope-that he had logged too many travel miles and had run in too many races since last May - has proved to be unfounded. Since that race on Jan.3 he’s had two maintenance works (he must be kicking the barn down). The last work was three days ago. That is in keeping with his pre-race schedule of his last two races, that have also been his best two races. If On Board Again doesn’t run Delightful Kiss will not be denied the winners buss!

Of the rest of the field I think there are two that may be heard from. The first is Atoned. He’s another horse that has a great set of works. Also, his last two races have shown him returning to old form, and, he is more versatile than the others.

The other is my longshot pick for the race, Medzendeekron. After fading to fourth in his first attempt at two turns he broke his maiden next out going 1-1/16 while displaying a good late turn of foot. And he ran 3rd going two turns at Del Mar back in Aug ’07. Of course the caveat is these were all on grass. In two dirt appearances he was off the board. They were his first starts so, perhaps, he can be excused. However, his pedigree screams turf and that is the cause for my hesitation. If he can transfer his grass / synthetic form to dirt he will be very dangerous at a big price. That Jan.17th work of 7f in 124 3/5 tells me distance is no problem.

The Picks:

If On Board Again Runs:
Win: On Board Again
Exacta Box: On Board Again – Delightful Kiss
Show Atoned

If On Board Again does not run:
Win: Delightful Kiss
Place: Atoned
Show: Finallymadeit

PP.
1. Finallymadeit (FL) 122 Eduardo Nunez 12-1
2. Dream Maestro (FL) 120 J.C. Jeyva 20-1
3. Macho Again (FL) 120 Kent Desormeaux 4-1
4. Palladio (FL) 122 Robby Albarado 12-1
5. It's A Bird (FL) 122 Julien Leparoux 12-1
6. Medzendeekron (CA) 122 Alan Garcia 20-1
7. Dry Martini (FL) 122 Edgar Prado 6-1
8. Atoned (FL) 120 Chris DeCarlo 5-1
9. Hey Byrn (FL) 120 Cornelio Velasquez 6-1
10. Nima's Pad (CA) 120 Martin Garcia 20-1
11. Famous Patriot (FL) 120 Javier Castellano 20-1
12. Delightful Kiss (FL) 122 Calvin Borel 3-1
AE On Board Again (FL) 122 John Velazquez 8-1
AE Solmen Promise (FL) 122 Aaron Gryder 20-1
AE Pistol Pete Afleet (FL) 120 Jesus Rios 20-1