2006 Sunshine Millions

Entries Drawn for Sunshine Millions IV

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2006) – There were 98 entries taken Monday for the eight races of the $3.6 million Sunshine Millions IV, to be held Saturday for horses bred in California and Florida at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.

The entry totals were up from 92 last year. The four races in Florida drew 50 horses, while the four races in California drew 48.

The breakdown of participation for this year’s Sunshine Millions shows 29 Cal-breds and 19 Florida-breds for the four races at Santa Anita and 10 Cal-breds and 40 Florida-breds for the four races at Gulfstream Park.

Despite the relatively low turnout of Cal-breds shipping East, two of the four Florida races have Cal-bred morning-line favorites – Dream of Summer at 8-5 in the $500,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Distaff and Bordonaro at 3-1 in the $300,000 Padua Stables Sprint.

Dream of Summer is one of five Cal-bred Grade I winners entered in Sunshine Millions, along with Lava Man and Proud Tower Too in the $1 million Classic and Leave Me Alone and Alphabet Kisses in the $300,000 Filly & Mare Sprint.

Millionaire Valentine Dancer will be seeking an unprecedented third victory in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Warren’s Thoroughbreds Filly & Mare Turf. Among the other top California-bred entrants is Da Stoops in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash for 3-year-olds.

This year, Santa Anita will host the Classic, Filly & Mare Turf, Filly & Mare Sprint and Dash. Gulfstream Park will host the Turf, Distaff, Sprint and Oaks.

Festivities at Santa Anita include the Miss Sunshine Millions Pageant, a KROQ Microbrew Festival, Family Fun Day and free Sunshine Millions cooler bags to everyone in attendance with paid admission at Santa Anita only while supplies last. Sticky Fingers, a Rolling Stones tribute band, will perform at Sirona’s after the last race.

At Gulfstream Park, Sunshine Millions will mark the farewell of Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who rides Florida-bred Silver Tree in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf. Among Bailey’s other mounts will be Cal-bred Thor’s Echo in the $300,000 Padua Stables Sprint.