Mr. Jordan will try to rebound in Sunshine Millions Classic Preview

Led by Mr. Jordan in the Millions Classic Preview, 137 horses were nominated to the eight stakes races for Florida-breds that will make up the bulk of Sunshine Millions Preview Day on Saturday at Gulfstream Park West. The races each carry a $75,000 purse.

Sunshine Millions Preview Day is the highlight of the Gulfstream Park West meet. The races serve as early preps for Sunshine Millions Day on Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park.

Mr. Jordan, trained by Edward Plesa Jr., is coming off a couple of very dull efforts at Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 Benny the Bull on Aug. 24 and the $150,000 Florida Sire Wildcat Heir on Sept. 28. He finished 16 1/2 lengths behind Art G Is Back in the Benny the Bull and more than 20 lengths behind Extrordinary Jerry in the Wildcat Heir.

Art G Is Back and Extrordinary Jerry are nominated to the Classic. However, trainer Todd Pletcher said Extrordinary Jerry is not likely to run.

Despite the poor performances, Mr. Jordan could end up favored in the 1 1/16-mile Classic.

He may not be as good as when he won the Grade 3 Pegasus as a 3-year-old in 2015, but he has yet to lose in five starts at Gulfstream Park West. He also will be going for his fourth-straight win in the Classic and is capable of rebounding from a poor performance. In the 2017 Classic, he romped by 11 1/2 lengths after getting beat by more than 17 lengths in the Pennsylvania Derby Championship at Parx Racing.

“You are going to see a different horse out there,” Plesa said.” I am not blaming anyone, but he is a hard horse to ride and both jocks had never been on him before. Edgard Zayas and Paco Lopez get the best out of him.”

Lopez, who was aboard when Mr. Jordan won the Classic by a nose last year and by 3 3/4 lengths in 2016, rides the son of Kantharos on Saturday.

“He has been training really well and, of course, we know he likes the surface,” Plesa said. “I expect him to run a good race.”

◗ Wednesday’s modest card is enhanced by a $533,241 carryover in the Rainbow 6. Post time for the first of eight races is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

◗ Jockey Leonel Reyes will be out for six to eight weeks after suffering a broken arm and chin in Friday’s seventh race. He was unseated when the horse he was riding, Blue Eyed Beth, hit the rail. The 3-year-old filly came out of the incident unscathed, but Reyes had surgery on his chin Friday and arm Sunday.

◗ Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. has been suspended by The Stronach Group for six months for having unlabeled medication in his barn. Officials in the Gulfstream racing office said he was eligible to appeal on a monthly basis. Barboza was the leading trainer at the Gulfstream summer meet.