$500,000 Sunshine Millions
Warren’s Thoroughbreds Filly & Mare Turf
MOSCOW BURNING

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2006) – California-bred Moscow Burning became California’s newest millionaire Saturday, closing with a rush to capture the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Warren’s Thoroughbreds Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

Moscow Burning is by Moscow Ballet, out of the Mr. Leader mare Burning Desire, was bred by Harris Farms & Ken Maddy Trust, is owned by Bullseye Racing, trained by James Cassidy and was ridden by David Flores. She has 10 wins in 25 starts and career earnings of $1,177,535.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, the 6-year-old Moscow Burning ran the 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:48.39 and won by 1 ½ lengths. Fellow Cal-bred Beneficial Bartok was second. Valentine Dancer, trying to win the race for the third consecutive year, had traffic trouble in the stretch and finished eight.

“The pace was slow and I just wanted to be in position,” said Flores. “When we went to the three-eights, it was perfect because right when I was looking for room to go on the turn, everybody accelerated and that opened things up for me, so I got a chance to get outside.”

Moscow Burning, a Grade II winner, finished fifth in this race last year behind Valentine Dancer. Her most recent win was the Nov. 6 California Cup Distance Handicap.

“I think this is as good a race as she could have ever run, as much as she had to do, go wide and give away all that space,” said Cassidy. “To be honest with you, I wasn’t sure she was going to get up. This is fantastic, to have a mare like this. If she never ran again, this would be perfect.”

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