Weekend Hideaway gears up for Sunshine Milions Sprint
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Though traditionally a series of races restricted to Florida-breds, the late decision to open the Sunshine Millions to horses bred in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland has given many horsemen new options they originally had not considered when shipping locally for the winter.
Of the 126 horses nominated to the five stakes races on next Saturday’s Sunshine Millions program, 26 are non-Florida-breds. That group includes the New York-bred Weekend Hideaway, who is being pointed for the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint by trainer Phil Serpe.
Weekend Hideaway, a four-time stakes winner of almost $450,000, will venture out of statebred company for the third time in his last four starts when launching his 2015 campaign here next Saturday. The son of Speightstown finished sixth in both the Grade 3 Fall Highweight and Grade 1 Forego following his two-length victory last summer at Saratoga in the John B. Morrissey.
“I thought he ran very well last summer, then got into a couple of tough races and tailed off a bit,” said Serpe, who trains Weekend Hideaway for Red and Black Stable. “But he has worked well since getting down here and seems to be coming into good form again. I had no idea this race was going to open up like it did when we first got to Florida, but that’s why it’s on our plate now. I just want to find a spot to get him back in the winner’s circle again. When a horse is doing well like he is, you have to run them because they are all gone too fast.”
Javier Castellano will replace Weekend Hideaway’s regular rider, Jose Lezcano, who is committed to Risk Factor in the Sprint. Risk Factor is coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.
Among the others expected to line up for the Sprint are Grande Shores, Happy My Way, Master Blender, Prudhoe Bay, and Yogi Berra.
East View faces Wildcat Red
The $250,000 Classic, which highlights the Sunshine Millions card, lured 21 nominations, only three of which, Big Business, Edge of Reality and Going to Market, were not bred in Florida. The 1 1/8-mile Classic is likely to feature a rematch between rivals East Hall and Wildcat Red. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin also is eyeing the race for Transparent, who finished a distant eighth after stumbling at the start of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in his 3-year-old finale.
Others likely for the Classic include Catholic Cowboy and Sr. Quisqueyano.
Trainer Jose Garoffalo has confirmed that Joel Rosario will be aboard Wildcat Red for the first time in the Classic. He becomes the seventh jockey to ride the multiple graded stakes winner in just 14 career starts.
“He is a good rider when on the lead, and I think he’ll fit well with this horse,” said Garoffalo. “I think he’s the kind of rider we need, especially on this track, where we can use his speed.”