Gulfstream Park: Wishing Gate drops from Grade 1 for Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tom Proctor saddles Old Time Hockey in the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf on Saturday, and has an outstanding chance to win a Sunshine Millions race earlier on the card, when Wishing Gate heads the field in the $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf, also at 1 1/8 miles.

Wishing Gate was sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park, but had finished no worse than second in three prior starts, all graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last summer. Her two most recent wins were with jockey Gary Stevens, who is back aboard on Saturday.

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Proctor thought Wishing Gate acquitted herself well in the Matriarch, which was won by Egg Drop, with Del Mar Oaks winner Discreet Marq second.

“There were some pretty good fillies in there, and she was only beaten a length and a half,” he said.

Silsita looks to make amends for finishing second as the favorite in a statebred stakes race here in November. She won the My Princess Jess at Saratoga last summer.

Parranda beat Silsita here in November, then was fourth in the Grade 3 My Charmer at Calder last month. She drew well, landing the rail, and excels over this course, having won 4 of 9 on it.

E B Ryder, drawn outside in the eight-horse field, never fired when stuck in post 14 in the Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs last time out, but scored a 10-1 upset in the Frances A. Genter at Calder in her race before last.

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There is little apparent speed in the race, so Sharapova Slams could prove formidable if she tries to capitalize. She has never beaten horses of this quality, but the likely race shape gives her an outside shot.