Gulfstream Park: Hooh Why upsets Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The majority of players who wagered on the Luck Pick Six were likely asking themselves "how" after Hooh Why knocked them out in the opening leg. The 18-1 longshot wore down 3-2 favorite Romacaca to register a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf.

Hooh Why, a 6-year-old daughter of Cloud Hopping, has had a number of different trainers during a career highlighted by her victory in the Grade 1 Ashland at 3. Maria Bowersock was the trainer of record when Hooh Why finished second in the South Beach Stakes in her first local appearance here last month but Shirley Girten-Drake was listed as her trainer on the program but was not in attendance Saturday when Hooh Why returned to upset the Sunshine Filly and Mare turf.

With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Hooh Why rated off the early pace of Speak Easy Gal, swung four wide while rallying into the stretch, then ran down Romacaca inside the sixteenth pole to win going clear. Romacaca stalked and gradually overtook Speak Easy Gal near midstretch but could not withstand the winner. Speak Easy Gal finished another neck further back in third.

Hooh Why, who had registered seven of her eight previous victories over synthetic surfaces, paid $37.40 after completing a mile and one-eighth in 1:46.77 seconds over a firm course.

“She doesn’t go anywhere without me,” said Mark Hoffman, who is part owner of Hooh Why and her trainer of record when she competes at Woodbine. “I even take her to family reunions. I hauled her down with me from Tampa last night and I’ll bring her back and turn her out for about 10 days after this race. I don’t want to run her much this winter. We were originally going to send her to the breeding shed this season but decided to have a little fun with her for one more year.”