Caracortado wins Sunshine Millions Turf

Caracortado, a Grade 2 winner on Santa Anita's synthetic track last winter, proved equally at home on the lawn when he outlasted The Usual Q. T. to capture the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf by a half-length Jan. 29.

This was the turf stakes debut for Caracortado, was bred in California by Michael Machowsky, who also trains the gelding and owns him as part of Lo Hi Racing with Donald Blahut's Blahut Racing. The 4-year-old son of Cat Dream won an optional claiming allowance on at Hollywood in his only prior try on grass Nov. 11.

Joe Talamo drove Caracortado to victory at 3-1 odds with a stalking trip on the outside. Coming three wide around the far turn, Caracortado reached even terms with the Usual Q. T. leaving the eighth pole and gained a narrow advantage in deep stretch.

"He's a freak on turf and has such a tremendous turn of foot," Talamo said. "He just explodes that last eighth."