Sunshine Millions Classic isn't ideal for Mr. Jordan

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s not like Mr. Jordan has never run well at Gulfstream Park, it’s just that he’s never won there in nine tries. And it’s not like Mr. Jordan has never run well going 1 1/8 miles, it’s just that he’s never won at that distance in four tries.

And it’s not like Mr. Jordan cannot win the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Classic on Saturday, even though the race covers 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park. It’s just a matter of whether bettors will accept a short price on a horse with those obstacles to overcome.

The Sunshine Millions Classic drew a field of just six and is the fourth race on a 12-race program that begins at noon Eastern. It is the first of four Florida-bred stakes on the card. The others are the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, and the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint.

Mr. Jordan ran arguably the best race of his career in the 2016 Sunshine Millions Classic, leading for most of the race before finishing second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Mexikoma, and earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure that is the best of his 25-race career.

Mr. Jordan has turned in several other good efforts here, including his most recent start, when finishing second behind the Pegasus World Cup-bound Fear the Cowboy after setting a contested pace in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday.

“He came out of his race 100 percent,” trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said. “My only concern is the distance. It’s a mile and an eighth – that’s stretching him. I was impressed with his last race because he had to run the whole distance. He didn’t get any kind of a breather. I think tactically this race will come up more to benefit him than the last did.”

Although the Classic has a short field, there is no shortage of early speed in the race, starting with the stretch-out sprinter Crocodile Charlie, who breaks from the rail. Flemish Cap, Jay’s Way, and Richard the Great also seem to be at their best when on or near the pace. Catholic Cowboy completes the lineup.

Richard the Great was a soundly defeated second to Mr. Jordan in their first meeting, the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 11. It wasn’t a surprising result since Mr. Jordan has never lost on that track and Richard the Great was making his first start around two turns that day.

Richard the Great closed the gap considerably on Mr. Jordan when they met for a second time in the Harlan’s Holiday, finishing just a neck behind in third after racing forwardly throughout. Trainer Stanley Gold is putting blinkers on Richard the Great for Saturday.

“He ran good the first time around two turns and better the second,” said Gold. “And I think he can run even better this time.”

Flemish Cap, Jay’s Way, and Crocodile Charlie each enters off a win. Flemish Cap defeated entry-level allowance company Dec. 31 for his third victory in his last four starts, but he’s yet to win when going longer than a mile.

Jay’s Way led most of the way and fought back after being headed by two rivals in midstretch to win an optional-claiming race going 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26. Crocodile Charlie captured the same condition at seven furlongs in his 3-year-old finale.

Catholic Cowboy owns two wins at this distance and could be a sleeper in the Sunshine Millions Classic, especially if the speed backs up at the end. Catholic Cowboy finished a distant third, a dozen lengths behind runner-up Mr. Jordan, in the 2016 renewal.