Surface switch benefitted Millionaire Runner in Home of the Brave

The rainy weather that plagued South Florida in the past week obviously had a major impact on Monday’s $60,000 Home of the Brave Handicap, won by the 28-1 Millionaire Runner, who drew off by seven lengths under jockey Luis Reyes for trainer Jaime Mejia.

The Home of the Brave, restricted to horses who had started for a claiming price, was originally carded for 1 1/2 miles on turf and had attracted a dozen potential starters. The race was shifted to a “good” main track due to the weather, resulting in four scratches, and was shortened to 1 1/4 miles.

Millionaire Runner, the only 3-year-old in the lineup, had won just once in 15 starts, having taken a $30,000 maiden claimer at Parx in November. He subsequently finished seventh, beaten nearly 20 lengths, after setting the pace in the Grade 2 Remsen and was fifth here this spring at odds of 116-1 in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

On Monday, Millionaire Runner defeated the two-time stakes-winning turf specialist Conquest Sandman, who finished a distant second while making only his second start on dirt. Bold Daddy surprisingly was the 8-5 favorite despite having never raced on dirt, and retreated early before being eased to the wire by jockey Tyler Gaffalione.