$500,000 Sunshine Millions
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Distaff
HOUSE OF FORTUNE

House of Fortune
Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

HALLANDALE, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2006) – House of Fortune turned back the challenge of fellow California-bred Dream of Summer around the far turn and drew off to a 6 ½-length win in Saturday’s $500,000 Sunshine Millions Ocala Breeders’ Sales Distaff at Gulfstream Park.

House of Fortune, a graduate of Barretts and the Del Mar Yearling Sale, is by Free House, out of the Garthorn mare So Fortunate, was bred by John Treasure, is owned by Arnold Zetcher, trained by Ron McAnally and was ridden by Pat Valenzuela, who won earlier on the card with Cal-bred Bordonaro in the Sunshine Millions Sprint.

This was House of Fortune’s eighth win in 22 starts and she nearly became a millionaire with it, raising her earnings to $989,185. The 5-year-old was coming off a win in the Dec. 4 Cat’s Cradle, her first win since the Grade II Hollywood Breeders’ Cup Oaks in June of 2004.

She finished eighth in this race last year at Santa Anita, beaten 16 ½ lengths by Sweet Lips, who finished second Saturday. Dream of Summer faded to third for the second consecutive year.

“I am finding out more and more about her each time I ride this filly and the way she races,” said Valenzuela, aboard House of Fortune for the third time. “She didn’t break the best today and I had to take her back, but she relaxed. On the turn, I saw an opening and I took it. She went right in there and took off right away.”

House of Fortune ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.33 and at 2-1 went off the second choice to the favored Dream of Summer.

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