$300,000 Sunshine Millions
Padua Stables Sprint
BORDONARO

Bordonaro
Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

HALLANDALE, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2006) – California-bred 2005 champion sprinter Bordonaro collared Thor’s Echo at the top of the stretch and captured Saturday’s $300,000 Padua Stables Sprint at Gulfstream Park, the opener in the $3.6 million Sunshine Millions IV.

The favored Bordonaro is by Memo, out of the Rajab mare Miss Excitement, was bred by owners Fred Carrillo and Daniel Cassella, was trained by Bill Spawr and ridden by Pat Valenzuela.

“I think he’s one of the best sprinters in the country,” said Valenzuela. “He kept on his left lead and I really didn’t try to make him switch. I just kept him going about his business.”

This was Bordonaro’s seventh win in nine starts and raised his earnings to $372,164. It was Bordonaro’s third consecutive stakes win following triumphs in the California Cup Starter Sprint and the Grade III Vernon O. Underwood Handicap.

“He’s been so upset since we got here, I’m so surprised that he ran this well,” said Spawr.

Bordonaro, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming tag last April, ran the six furlongs in 1:08.57, seven hundredths of a second off the track record. He won by the-quarters of a length as the 3-2 pick. Fellow Cal-bred Thor’s Echo was nosed out for third and defending Sprint winner Red Warrior was 10th after an awkward start.

“Me and Fred have just one broodmare,” said Cassella. “Between the runners we’ve gotten from her we’ve won about 17 races. Obviously, we’re not a big farm, but this mare has been very good to us. He was in for a claim early last year, but thank God they didn’t take him. We’ve always thought a lot of him, but he had some problems. Bill has done a great job of bringing him around. He’s the expert.”

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