Bear Fan Preps for Sunshine Millions

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2005) – California-bred Bear Fan, one of the top female sprinters in the country in 2004, is gearing up for her return from a seven-month layoff in the Sunshine Millions Distaff Sprint at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29.

Bear Fan won three Grade II stakes during the first six months of 2004 but has not started since finishing second in Calder's Grade II Princess Rooney Handicap on July 10. Bear Fan has been in training at Palm Meadows, where she worked a half-mile in 47 seconds with Angel Cordero Jr. aboard on Thursday.

"Angel said she feels like a million bucks," said trainer Wesley Ward. "I decided to give her a break after the race at Calder. I sent her back to the farm in California, where she was born, the very next day and just let her run around in a 15-acre field for four months. I can get her fit enough off the track at Palm Meadows. She runs well fresh and I thought the Sunshine Millions is a good place to get her started again for what I think will be another big year."

Bear Fan finished third following an extremely rough trip in last year's Sunshine Million's Distaff Sprint at Santa Anita.

"She should have won the race by 10 lengths, her trip was so bad," said Ward. "I know trainers tell you that all the time but watch the replay and you'll see what I mean."