Wishing Gate and Bad Debt figure prominently in the two Florida Sunshine Millions races on turf Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park, a pair of intriguing grass tests on a day Florida-breds get the spotlight.
In the $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, Wishing Gate enters the 1 1/8-mile test off victories in three of her past five starts. Those wins include clear victories in the San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT) July 21 at Del Mar and in the Autumn Miss Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 29 at Santa Anita Park.
After making her four previous starts in Southern California, trainer Tom Proctor will ship the Florida-bred daughter of Indian Charlie east. Jockey Gary Stevens, who guided the Glen Hill Farm homebred to both of her recent stakes wins, will have the mount.
Awaiting Wishing Gate will be Parranda and Silsita, the respective one-two finishers in the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes Nov. 9 at Gulfstream.
In the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, Robert Leibner's consistent Bad Debt will try for his 11th victory on turf. The 7-year-old Grand Reward gelding has hit the board in 32 of his 38 career turf starts, including a third-place finish in his most recent effort, the Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) Dec. 7 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Trained by Michael Trombetta, Bad Debt won the Millions Turf Preview Nov. 9 at Gulfstream. Bad Debt was bred in Florida by Pennston Farms.
$150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes (race 6, approximate post time 3:05 p.m. EST) Florida-bred 4YO&Up, F&M, 1 1/8 miles, turf
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Parranda (FL), J. Lezcano, 119, R. Garcia
2. Sharapova Slams (FL), L. Saez, 117, A. Sano
3. Wishing Gate (FL), G. Stevens, 121, T. Proctor
4. Nicki Starshine (FL), J. Felix, 117, W. White
5. Silsita (FL), J. Castellano, 117, T. Pletcher
6. Creative License (FL), L. Panici, 117, S. Towne
7. Millennia (FL), J. Bravo, 119, D. Fawkes
8. E B Ryder (FL), J. Leparoux, 117, M. Wolfson
$150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes (race 8, approximate post time 4:03 p.m. EST) Florida-bred 4YO&Up, 1 1/8 miles, turf
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Tiz Gianni (FL), J. Leparoux, 117, B. Brown
2. Spring Up (FL), J. Bravo, 117, J. Sadler
3. Blameshifter (FL), J. Alvarez, 117, D. Ward
4. Hobbs (FL), P. Lopez, 117, K. Mongeon
5. Star Channel (FL), J. Lezcano, 119, E. Kenneally
6. Tune Me In (FL), L. Saez, 117, C. Clement
7. Bad Debt (FL), J. Rosario, 119, M. Trombetta
8. Bim Bam (FL), J. Castellano, 117, R. Moquett
9. Racing Aptitude (FL), K. Carmouche, 117, D. Fawkes
10. Old Time Hockey (FL), G. Stevens, 117, T. Proctor