Red Crescent changes style to win Sunshine Millions Classic Preview

MIAMI - When the Gulfstream Park West meet began, Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Preview wasn’t even under consideration for Red Crescent. Five weeks later, Red Crescent not only won the Classic Preview by 1 1/4 lengths over Art G is Back, he did so as the surprising even-money favorite.

Red Crescent punched his ticket into the Classic Preview after registering a wire-to-wire 6 1/2-length allowance win against open company here on Oct. 3, earning a career best 94 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. He used a totally different modus operandi to get the job done on Saturday.

Red Crescent broke a step slow from his inside post before recovering to race within easy striking distance of early leader Hy Riverside while kept on the rail by jockey Sammy Camacho. Red Crescent eased out to the middle of the track for the drive, responding to late pressure to wear down Art G. is Back and win going away.

Art G. is Back, the only 3-year-old in a field of five Florida-breds, readily gained command outside Hy Riverside entering the stretch, edged clear but could not contain the winner at the end. Hy Riverside finished a tiring third, another 4 1/2 lengths behind. He was followed by Richard the Great and Mr. Jordan, who steadied sharply entering the first turn and was never a serious factor while seeking his fourth straight victory in the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview.

Red Crescent, a 5-year-old son of Overdriven, is trained by John Vinson for the Equine Authority Inc. He returned $4 after completing a mile and one-sixteenth over the fast track in 1:44.61.

“We never really thought about this race until he won the last time,” said Vinson. “We had actually debated sending him home for the winter to give him some time off because it was about this time last year he started tailing off. He’s always run well on this racetrack. I really can’t explain it. He’s just doing good right now.”

The Classic was one of three stakes wins on the card for Camacho, who also captured the $75,000 Distaff, aboard Wildwood’s Beauty and the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf with American Giant.

Wildwood’s Beauty rallied to an impressive 1 3/4-length victory over Heireessall in the seven-furlong Distaff. The result mirrored that of the Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 7.

The win was the fourth in eight starts this season, all stakes, for the 3-year-old daughter of Kantharos, who has been worse than second but once this year. Trainer by Scott Becker for William Stiritz, she paid $4.

Stormy Embrace finished fourth, her second straight setback since defending her title in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney earlier this season at Gulfstream.

Camacho completed his personal hat trick on American Giant, who led a one-two finish in the one-mile Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Michael Trombetta. She outfinished stablemate Our Little Jewel The top two finishers are homebreds owned by Live Oak Plantation.

American Giant, who was facing Florida-breds for the first time in five starts, returned $12.

Galleon Mast successfully defended his title in the $75,000 Turf Preview, overcoming some traffic issues around the second turn to surge late and run down Freedom Matters in the first of the nine statebred stakes on Saturday’s Sunshine Millions Preview card. Galleon Mast, who won the race a year ago in similar fashion, was the first of three stakes wins on the card for jockey Paco Lopez.

Galleon Mast, a son of Mizzen Mast trained by David Fawkes for owner Anne Scott, was registering his first win of the campaign in just four starts. He paid $5.80.