Musique Toujours, Valentine Dancer, Red Warrior
Score Sunshine Millions Wins

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 29, 2005) – A stunning victory by Musique Toujours in the $1 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Classic, a repeat win by Valentine Dancer in the $500,000 Cloverleaf Farms Filly & Mare Turf and Red Warrior’s upset score in the $300,000 Vinery Sprint were the highlight efforts for California-breds in Saturday’s $3.6 million Sunshine Millions III.

The event, held at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park for horses bred in California and Florida saw California-breds win three of the eight races, improving from two last year and one in the inaugural running.

In the point-total competition, Florida won for the third time but by the closest margin yet, 44-28. California-breds earned $1,597,500 of the total purse, the best Cal-bred haul to date. Cal-breds had three wins, three seconds and four thirds.

California-breds were favored in five of the eight races but none of the favorites won, including 2-5 choice Bear Fan in the $300,000 Padua Stables Filly & Mare Sprint and 4-5 pick Yearly Report in the $500,000 Barretts/CTBA Distaff. They finished second and fifth, respectively.

The biggest winner was the most surprising, Musique Toujours, a 5-year-old gelded son of Musique d’Enfer, out of the Inherent Star mare Starry Farrari, was bred by Jacquie Takaha and Lorenzo Precioado and owned by Lloyd DeBruycker and Richard Glassman.

Valentine Dancer, a 5-year-old mare by In Excess, out of the Mr. Prospector mare Gilded Dancer, was bred by owners Al and Sandra Kirkwood.

Red Warrior, a 5-year-old by Benchmark, out of the Plugged Nickle mare Sparkling Nickle, was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds and Kielstrom and owned by Miguel Rubio.

Red Warrior’s win led a Cal-bred sweep of the top three spots in the Sprint, with millionaire Full Moon Madness second and favorite Areyoutalkintome third. In the race, California Cup Sprint champion Green Team suffered a fatal leg injury.

A to the Z had the best Cal-bred finish in the $500,000 Warren’s Thoroughbreds Turf with a second; Dream of Summer was third in the $500,000 Barretts/CTBA Distaff; Memorette was third in the $250,000 Pepsi Oaks; and Run Thruthe Sun was fifth in the Ocala Stud Dash;
On-track attendance at Santa Anita was 17,533, down from 18,888 last year.