Bailey Comes West for Sunshine Millions

By Daily Racing Form
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2005) -- Jerry Bailey will ride favorites at Santa Anita in the two richest races on the local Sunshine Millions card: Florida shipper Silver Tree in the $500,000 Turf and Yearly Report in the $500,000 Distaff.

Florida-bred Silver Tree, trained by Bill Mott, is a Grade II winner with six victories and earnings of $718,720 from 16 starts. Silver Tree finished second by a neck in his last start Dec. 4 in a Grade III at Calder.

Yearly Report is trained by Bob Baffert and will train up to the Distaff. She has won six of nine starts and earned $835,900, but has not raced since Oct. 29. She was scratched from the Grade I La Brea Stakes on Dec. 27.

Steiner likely to get Millions mount
Jockey Joe Steiner is batting 1.000 at the meet, and will ride one of the favorites in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks on Jan. 29. Steiner, who returned this meet from a three-month hiatus after being injured in a spill at Fairplex Park, has won with both his mounts this meet, including Vikki's Honor, who won her debut Jan. 1 for trainer Adam Kitchingman with a Beyer of 83.

Kitchingman said the filly would make her next start in the Sunshine Millions if she gets into the race. Since few Florida shippers are expected to travel west to face stakes winners Coastal Strike, Memorette and allowance filly She's a Jewel, Kitchingman and Steiner may get their wish.

"It's not going to be easy money, but they'll have to do some running to catch her," Kitchingman said.