2006 Sunshine Millions

Classic Has Grade I Look

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2006) – California-breds Lava Man and Proud Tower Too
take on Florida-bred Buzzards Bay in a battle of Grade I winners, the subplot in Saturday’s $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita.

Lava Man is by Slew City Slew, out of the Nostalgia’s Star mare Li’l Ms. Leonard, was bred by Lonnie Arterburn and is owned by Jason Wood. He has seven wins in 27 starts, earnings of $1,034,706 and is coming off an 11th in the Nov. 26 Japan Cup, but also won last year’s Hollywood Gold Cup by 8 ¾ lengths. He was seventh in the Sunshine Millions Classic last year.

Proud Tower Too is by Proud Irish, out of the Irish Tower mare Dora’s Tower and was
bred by owner Tricar Stables. He has five wins in 16 starts, earnings of $349,014 and is coming off his Grade I win in the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes. He has two starts around two turns, finishing eighth and fifth.

Texcess is by In Excess, out of the Regal Classic mare Danish Alamode, was bred by Ron Gomez and is owned by Aguirre and Aldabbagh. He has three wins in 12 starts, earnings of $805,365 and is coming off a fourth in the Dec. 4 On Trust. The $85,000 Barretts purchase won the 2004 Delta Jackpot and would become a millionaire with a first or second in this race.

Desert Boom is by Boomerang, out of the Desert Wine mare Sand Dance, was bred by Van Mar Farms and is owned by Robert Bone. He has 14 wins in 37 starts, earnings of $655,670 and is coming off a third in the Dec. 26 Holiday Turf Handicap, having earlier won the Grade III Berkeley Handicap. He would become a millionaire with a win in this race.

Super Strut is by Lil Tyler, out of the Torsion mare Miss Chez Cheveaux, was bred
by Madera Thoroughbreds and is owned by Class Racing Stable. He has five wins in 18 starts, earnings of $260,582 and is coming off a Jan. 13 optional claimer win. He was eighth in last year’s Sunshine Millions Turf.

McCann’s Mojave is by Memo, out of the Nordic Prince mare Joni U. Bar and was bred by owners Hunt and Willman. He has seven wins in 16 starts, earnings of $555,380 and is coming off an eighth in the Dec. 10 Native Diver after winning the California Cup Classic. He would become a millionaire with a win in this race.

Calkins Road is the lone Cal-bred also-eligible. He is by Illinois Storm, out of the Lost Code mare Little Code and was bred by owners Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shapiro. He has five wins in 19 starts, earnings of $515,665 and is coming off a seventh in a Dec. 18 allowance. He has three career stakes wins and would become a millionaire with a win in this race.