A full gate of 12 older runners passed the entry box for the Jan. 18 Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park, and why not? There's $150,000 on the table for the 1 1/16-mile race for Florida-breds.
Heading the cast figures to be Fundamental, who will be led out of Chad Brown's barn. The trainer is coming off a career year and is already off to a hot start in 2016.
Fundamental, owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, has made his last three appearances in top-level company and in his last start was beaten just a length in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Del Mar Nov. 28. The son of Arch—Halo's Verse, by Unbridled's Song, was a close-up fifth prior to that in Keeneland's Bryan Station Stakes and was beaten just a length Sept. 19 in the Commonwealth Derby (gr. IIT) at Laurel Park. Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 16, 2016, Race 10
Fundamental was bred by Glen Hill Farm, who has homebred Old Time Hockey in the Millions Turf lineup. A 7-year-old by Smarty Jones , Old Time Hockey is a veteran of this type of action. He'll be making his 25th turf appearance and 14th at the trip. He topped state-breds last time out, Nov. 7 at Gulfstream Park West, with a head victory in the Millions Turf Preview at the same trip.
Dead-heating for second in the Preview was One Step Salsa and fellow Millions Turf runner Rizwan, who drew the wood. The 4-year-old son of Silver Tree will be going for his fifth victory at Gulfstream on Saturday.
Another one of several to consider is the well-bred Amigo, who was third to multiple grade I winner Lochte last time out in the Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT). By Hard Spun , the Arindel homebred is out of Dat You Miz Blue, by Cure the Blues, and is trained by Ronny Werner. The Tropical Turf was the 5-year-olds' stakes debut.
Copper Water Thoroughbred's Reporting Star also has back class. The 6-year-old Circular Quay gelding finished fifth in a pair of grade I turf tests at Woodbine last fall and won the 7 1/2-furlong El Prado Stakes Dec. 12 at Gulfstream.
Entries: Sunshine Millions Turf S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Rizwan (FL) Jose C. Caraballo 117 Philip A. Gleaves 15/1 2 2Fundamental (FL) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 117 Chad C. Brown 2/1 3 3Cement Clement (FL) Ricardo Feliciano 119 Tony Wilson 12/1 4 4My Point Exactly (FL) Javier Castellano 121 William A. Kaplan 10/1 5 5Firespike (FL) Eddie Castro 117 Michael J. Maker 20/1 6 6Manchurian High (FL) Luis Saez 119 Lilli Kurtinecz 6/1 7 7Amigo (FL) Joel Rosario 117 Ronny W. Werner 20/1 8 8Old Time Hockey (FL) Ronald Dale Allen, Jr. 121 Thomas F. Proctor 6/1 9 9Black Martino (FL) Tyler Gaffalione 117 Jose Garoffalo 20/1 10 10Gourmet Delight (FL) Paco Lopez 117 Angel A. Penna, Jr. 20/1 11 11Reporting Star (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 121 Pat Parente 4/1 12 12Prince Vincenzo (FL) Joe Bravo 117 Joe Sharp 20/1
