Cashing In on Sunshine Millions
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| WHO: Thoroughbreds – Pashito the Che, Sweet Repent, Bad Action, Miss McCall, Closeout, Compari |
| WHAT: Horse Racing Betting Tips – The Sunshine Millions Series |
| WHERE: Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita |
| WHEN: Saturday, January 30th |
The eighth annual Sunshine Millions, for Florida and California-bred horses, highlights this weekend’s thoroughbred stakes activity. There are six races in all - three at Gulfstream Park and three at Santa Anita. Space prevents a full analysis of each race, but I’ll share my picks in hopes that we can all profit from them.
The Sunshine Millions Sprint: Curiously, there’s no dominant speed in this race…at least on paper. However, the addition of blinkers to Pashito the Che may make him the one to catch with regular rider Eibar Coa aboard. This 4YO colt has finished first or second in his last 10 outings, and will take some catching. This Ones for Phil loves Gulfstream, and earned the field’s top Beyer Speed Figure (115) last year at this track/distance. He’ll be charging late, and should round out a chalky exacta.
The Sunshine Millions Distaff: Unlike the Sprint, there’s plenty of pace in this affair, which should set things up nicely for Sweet Repent. Amazing and Jessica Is Back do their best running on the front end, so a duel seems likely. Sweet Repent has won four straight at her Calder base, and could make it five on Saturday with a comfortable stalking trip. Her 5-furlong bullet work on Jan. 22nd indicates she should handle the Gulfstream surface.
The Sunshine Millions Turf: Bad Action was also entered in The Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita, but his connections have opted for this spot. He’s a live underdog at 10-1, and has made a habit of outrunning his odds. This 4YO has moved recently from Contessa to Pletcher, and gets the services of John Velazquez on Saturday. He’s coming off a pair of top efforts vs. Grade 3 company, and the switch to the lawn should pose no problem. Soldier’s Dancer is the horse to beat, so I’ll box him with Bad Action in the exacta.
The Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint: It appears that the talented Miss McCall has plenty of upside, which makes her tough to go against in this modest field. She owns a pair of wins sprinting at Santa Anita and exits an easy stakes score at Turf Paradise. She has won on the lead and from just off the pace, giving jockey Tyler Baze some options. The pick.
The Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf: Trainer Thomas Proctor has an uncoupled pair of live runners in this event – Closeout and Tight Precision. I’m siding with Closeout, who has a pair of Grade 3 turf stakes wins on her resume. That second-place finish last out at Tampa Bay Downs should provide the perfect tune up for this event.
The Sunshine Millions Classic: The Usual Q. T. may be the best horse in the race, but this rising turf star’s ability on Pro-Ride is the question. Comapari is much less accomplished, but he’s won at the distance, and ran pretty well here in his career debut. Having Garrett Gomez aboard doesn’t hurt either, and trainer Martin Jones has been on fire at the meet. A big threat to go gate-to-wire.
These are my horse racing betting tips for the weekend. Best of luck and happy gambling!
