The first of the four Sunshine Millions races to be run at Gulfstream Park Saturday is the $300,000 Padua Stables Sprint, which attracted a bulky field of 13 older horses. Fred Carrillo and Daniel Cassella's California-bred Bordonaro is the likely favorite under Patrick Valenzuela.
Bordonaro is a 5-year-old chestnut gelding who didn't make his career debut until early last year at Santa Anita. He's made up for lost time rapidly with six victories in seven starts after a dull sixth-place debut for veteran trainer Bill Spawr.
The California-bred son of Memo was an easy winner of the California Cup Starter Sprint at Santa Anita in early November and the Vernon Underwood Handicap (gr. III) at Hollywood Park last out on Dec. 3, a race in which Captain Squire finished third.
An intriguing prospect is Mac Fehsenfeld's 6-year-old gelding Valid Video, winner of the first running of the Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream early in 2003 and back to finish third behind Shake You Down in the Sprint there the next year.
Trained by Dennis Manning, Valid Video has much to overcome to be a factor because it will be his first start since finishing sixth behind Champali in the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) at Calder in July of 2004. He has trained up to the race at Classic Mile in Ocala.
Jerry Bailey rides the California-bred Thor's Echo in the six-furlong event.
Nine of the 13 competitors are Florida breds.
$300,000 Sunshine Millions Padua Stables Sprint Stakes (Race 6, 3:20 p.m. ET), 4 & up California & Florida breds, 6 furlongsPP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Areyoutalkintome (CA), 122, John Velazquez
2. Thor's Echo (CA), 121, Jerry Bailey
3. Nightmare Affair (FL), 122, Rafael Bejarano
4. All Hail Stormy (FL), 122, Javier Castellano
5. Halos Sailing Sain (FL), 121, Christopher DeCarlo
6. Bordonaro (CA), 122, Patrick Valenzuela
7. Mister Fotis (FL), 122, Edgar Prado
8. Tacirring (FL), 122, Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
9. Santana Strings (FL), 121, Shaun Bridgmohan
10. Valid Video (FL), 122, Jose Lezcano
11. Bushwacker (FL), 121, Alex Solis
12. Red Warrior (CA), 122, Eddie Castro
13. Smokume (FL), 122, Shannon Uske
