Mo Cash set for a challenge in Sunshine Millions Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ron Spatz said Mo Cash couldn’t be doing any better after the graded stakes-placed speedster blew out three-eighths in 34.68 seconds here Monday for the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint. But Spatz also knows Mo Cash will be facing his stiffest challenge yet when he squares off against X Y Jet, one of the premier sprinters in the country, in the Sprint, one of four stakes to be decided on Saturday’s Sunshine Millions card.

Spatz has always tried to spot Mo Cash as judiciously as possible. In fact, he got away with running the son of Adios Charlie for a $35,000 claiming tag when launching his career here a year ago, and Mo Cash responded with a nine-length victory. He’s never raced for a price again.

Mo Cash won each of his next two starts, both stakes, and was subsequently graded stakes placed when second behind Three Rules here last summer in the Grade 3 Carry Back. He avenged that setback in his most recent start in a Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa.

“He’s come out of his last race well, had three nice works since, and he’ll come over there on Saturday as good as he can be,” Spatz said. “We’ve been trying to keep him in restricted divisions and stuff when we can, but have kind of run out of those spots now. And even though this is a Florida-bred stakes, once you get in with older horses you have to face the reality of catching competition that’s as good as open company, like an X Y Jet.”

Antonio Gallardo rode Mo Cash to victory in his last start at Tampa but has other commitments this weekend, according to Spatz, who has reached out to Javier Castellano as a replacement.

Along with X Y Jet and Mo Cash, the Sunshine Millions Sprint also is expected to attract Sheikh of Sheikhs, Quijote, and Bold Envoy.