Wildcat Red breezes towards Sunshine Millons Classic

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Every horse on the grounds got the morning off from training with the track closed here at Gulfstream Park on Christmas Day. As a result, fewer than a handful turned in recorded breezes when getting back to work on Friday.

But the holiday walk day did not keep the multiple graded stakes winner Wildcat Red from sticking to his regular work schedule on Friday. With jockey Carlos Olivero aboard, Wildcat Red breezed five furlongs in 1:02.66 shortly after the first renovation break, responding to urging through the stretch to complete his final quarter in 24.61 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.83.

“I’m very happy with the work,” trainer Jose Garoffalo said. “Especially with the way he finished and galloped out. Carlos told me he felt a lot better than last week. Although the track was closed yesterday, Red’s a horse who warms up well before he works. He gallops nearly a mile before breaking off at the pole, so breezing him after a walk day was really not an issue.”

Garoffalo said the Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 17 is currently the first option for Wildcat Red’s 4-year-old debut, even though the purse has been slashed $100,000 to $250,000 and the race opened to New York-, Pennsylvania- and Maryland-breds since first appearing on the original stakes schedule for 2015.

“For the moment, we’re still sticking to our original plan and pointing for the Sunshine Classic, although I do have the option of pushing him up a week for the Hal’s Hope, if I want to,” said Garoffalo.

“But I believe the Classic is a better spot for him and gives me an opportunity to get two more workouts into him before he runs.”

Garoffalo said if all goes well, the Sunshine Classic will be used as a prep for the Grade 1 Donn Handicap three weeks later. He also said that he has yet to commit to any rider for either race.

“I’d like to get [Javier] Castellano since he’s won on him before,” said Garoffalo. “[Luis] Saez is probably our second choice. Right now the most important thing for me is the horse and how he is doing. We’ll always be able to find a rider.”