Weekend Watch: Florida-breds, 3-year-olds in the spotlight
While this weekend's slate of races features just one graded stake, the Grade 3 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita, we'll keep an eye on prep races for upcoming points-paying stops on the road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Aside from that, the headliners run at Gulfstream Park, where Florida-breds will star in The Sunshine Millions series totaling $700,000 in purses.
Pair of 3-year old stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs isn’t a known producer of Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects, but every now and again, a star goes through the area. While neither the Gasparilla Stakes nor the Pasco Stakes are recognized prep races, they are the local prep for the Tampa Bay races that are points events. Trainer H. Graham Motion’s filly Almond Roca headlines the Gasparilla while trainer Jason Servis’s colt World of Trouble is favored in the Pasco. Almond Roca most recently won the Sandpiper Stakes over the Tampa Bay main track while World of Trouble has been off since running 2nd in the FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes in September. Post time for the Gasparilla is 1:12 p.m. while the Pasco is set to go off at 3:42 p.m.
Florida-breds highlighted in Sunshine Millions series at Gulfstream
With its placement in mid-January, the Sunshine Millions series makes a good early year target. In the past it has drawn some high level talent, but this year’s fields contain more of your hard-knocking types than your star power types. Oddly enough, the Sunshine Millions Classic (1:30 p.m.) isn’t even the main race. That honor belongs to the Sunshine Millions Sprint (5 p.m.) where X Y Jet continues his comeback. If he continues to run well, he could be a major player in the sprint division this year. The Classic features graded stakes winner Mr. Jordan, who finished second to Pegasus World Cup contender Fear the Cowboy last out in the G3 Harlan’s Holiday. Enterprising is the prohibitive favorite for the Sunshine Millions Turf (3 p.m.). While an inconsistent runner, the gelding occasionally strings together some nice races, and if his win in the Millions Turf Preview is any indication, he’s rounding back into good form. Starship Jubilee had a banner year in 2017, winning both the G2 Nassau and the G2 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine. She finished the year off on a down note with three straight losses but looks to rebound in her 2018 bow in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf (4:30 p.m.).
Amy’s Challenge vs. Mia Mischief in the Dixie Belle
Like the Gasparilla and Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs, the Dixie Belle Stakes is not itself an official qualifying race for the Kentucky Oaks, but it is the local Oaklawn prep for next month’s Martha Washington Stakes, which is a points race. Undefeated Amy’s Challenge is already a stakes winner and an intriguing prospect as she ships in from Canterbury Park, where she has made both career starts. Mia Mischief has never been out of the exacta in four career starts. Both fillies are speedsters and will likely go head-to-head from start to finish. A good race by both means we will likely see them further down the Oaklawn Road to the Oaks, and Oaklawn has produced some top notch fillies in recent years. Post time is at 5:38 p.m. ET.
Bendable tries turf in Las Cienegas
The G3 Las Cienegas Stakes, set to go off at 6:30 p.m. ET, will include several firsts. Bendable will try the turf for the first time while Beau Recall (IRE) and Princess Princess will try the downhill course. Despite having never raced on the lawn, Bendable has been given a slight nod in terms of favoritism over Beau Recall, who is multiple graded stakes placed on the turf. Beau Recall will also be wheeling back in distance, having last raced going 10 furlongs. The Las Cienegas is 6 ½ furlongs. Coniah also deserves a long look here, as well as Anita Partner (IRE) off the layoff.