Familiar faces expected for Sunshine Millions
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The 18th running of the Sunshine Millions will serve as the highlight of the coming weekend at Gulfstream, with four stakes restricted to Florida-breds being run on Saturday Jan. 19.
Defending winners in three races are expected back, those being Jay’s Way for the $200,000 Classic; Starship Jubilee for the $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf; and X Y Jet for the $100,000 Sprint. The remaining race is the $150,000 Turf.
Entries for Saturday will be drawn Wednesday.
McPeek off to Dubai
Trainer Kenny McPeek is scheduled to leave Sunday for Dubai to rejoin a foursome of horses – Senior Investment, Harlan Strong, Honorable Treasure, and Grecko – who were flown overseas earlier this week ahead of upcoming races at Meydan.
Before departing, McPeek was scheduled to oversee comeback works at Payson Park for Eskimo Kisses, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama last summer, and his top two prospects for the Kentucky Derby, both of them graded winners already at Churchill Downs – Signalman, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club in late November, and Cairo Cat, winner of the Iroquois in September.
“They’re all doing as well as I could ask for,” McPeek said.
◗ Jockeys Albin Jimenez and Marcos Meneses both are expected back riding Wednesday at Gulfstream after missing recent cards. Jimenez was scheduled to return Tuesday to the United States from his native Panama, where he has been spending time with his gravely ill grandmother. Meneses is recovering from a Wednesday spill that required several stitches just below his eye. Meanwhile, Robby Albarado took off all mounts here Thursday and Friday because of a stomach ailment.
