Musique Toujours in stunner

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - On a day filled with upsets, the biggest and best was saved for last when 70-1 Musique Toujours outlasted Zakocity by a neck to win the $1 million at Gulfstream Park.

Musique Toujours, who was claimed by owners Lloyd DeBruycker and Richard Glassman for $40,000 in November 2003, became the seventh longshot to win on Saturday's eight-race Sunshine Millions program at Gulfstream and Santa Anita Park. He paid $142.20. Lost in the Fog was the only winning Sunshine Millions favorite.

Even with the victory by the California-bred Musique Toujours, Florida-breds continued their dominance of the Sunshine Millions, winning five of the races Saturday. Florida-breds have won 18 of the 24 races decided since the inception of the Sunshine Millions program in 2003.

Musique Toujours took the ontrack crowd of 8,714 at Gulfstream by surprise when sent to the lead by jockey Jorge Chavez, setting fractions of 23.19 seconds, 46.44, and 1:10.63 while stalked by Zakocity from the outset of the 1 1/8-mile Classic. Musique Tourjours edged clear briefly in early stretch, but Zakocity dug back in and made one last run at the winner, only to fall short at the wire.

Classic Endeavor rallied along the rail, steadied briefly in late stretch, and finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Zakocity. Limehouse made a menacing bid while four wide into the stretch but could not sustain the rally.

Midas Eyes, the 2-1 favorite in the field of 12, raced within striking distance parked four wide but tired badly after seven furlongs and finished a well-beaten ninth.

"To be honest, we shipped there thinking it would be nice to finish on the board in a $1 million race," said John Sadler, who trains Musique Toujours. "I stopped on him after he got a little sore in his back at Del Mar, but he came back in good shape and trained well for this race. I told Jorge to put him right in the race and not give up that good post position, but I really didn't expect him to be on the lead."