Stockholder Seeks Sunshine Millions Dividends

HALLANDALE, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2005) -- Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was on hand Monday morning to oversee workouts by many of his top Gulfstream Park-based horses including California-bred Stockholder, who is pointing toward the $1 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Classic – the highlight of the Jan. 29 Sunshine Millions program.

Stockholder worked seven furlongs in 1:26 2/5, handily, as the 5-year-old horse progresses toward his first stakes race since a knee injury sidelined him early last year.

“He had a tiny little chip that had to be taken out of his knee,” said Mott. “It never required any more patience than you normally have around horses, but it’s behind him now.”

The chip was discovered soon after his third-place performance behind Puzzlement and Bowman’s Band in last year’s opening-day feature, the Hal’s Hope Handicap. The surgery knocked him out for 10 months. He began working out again in October and finished second in an optional-allowance race at Churchill Nov. 25 behind then-undefeated Commentator.

The knee injury and other ailments have limited Stockholder to just nine starts. When he’s been on the track he’s been close to brilliant, with four wins and only two out-of-the-money efforts. The lack of stakes-racing credentials could keep him out of a crowded Sunshine Millions field.

“He’s kind of on the bubble from what I understand,” said Mott. “He’s close to getting in. The owners (Dapple Stables LLC) have been keeping a close eye on it. They’re hoping very much that he gets a chance to run.”