Don't Blink During Millions Telecast

- Saturday’s Sunshine Million races has understandably attracted mostly overflow fields of Florida and California breds, considering the astounding $3.6 million worth of purses for the 8 race program from two tracks. NBC will televise the Stronach Spectacular from 4-6 PM, and go deep into their talent pool to field full crews at both Gulfstream and Santa Anita Park. However, there won’t be much airtime for the 4 reporters from each track, since the network plans to cram 8 races (1 on tape) into a 2 hour show. In fact, according to the published post times, there will be 7 live races between 4:15 and 5:45 PM (the latter no doubt so that there’s time for the Magna Chief and his favorite sponsors to have face time on camera with the winning connections of the featured million dollar OBS Classic) so you’re advised to do your handicapping in advance.

While the Classic has the biggest purse, much attention will also be directed towards the provocatively named Ocala Stud Dash, 6 furlongs for 3 yo’s, as Lost in the Fog, who broke the timer in a minor stakes at Turf Paradise in a stunning 15 length win and ridiculous 109 speed figure, makes his 3 yo debut. This six furlong race won’t answer any of the questions eveyone wants answered, but another show of freaky speed will send him to the forefront of Derby speculation. There are some other sharp speed horses in the field, but consider that the son of Lost Soldier battled for the lead for the first half mile in 43.3! (If you’re one of my family members who knows nothing about all this, that’s really fast.) One interesting opponent is Bushwacker (Outflanker) who, like LITF, is a grandson of Danzig. Off a debut win on the turf, he added blinkers and ran second by 2 to Declan’s Moon in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue with a 94 Beyer. He was eased in the Gr 1 Hollywood Futurity when his saddle slipped, and scratched from the San Miguel. so he really hasn’t run for 2 months, and his trainer William Currin is 0-15 in that category; but the cut back to 6f from 7 should help, his workouts have been nothing short of spectacular, and besides, I like his name.

- “He’s the one.” So said Wayne Lukas as reported in Thoroughbred Daily News of his 3 yo Consolidator (Storm Cat) after he continued a string of sharp, long works with a 6 furlong move in 1:11 3/5, preparing for a mid-Feb return. The $1.25 million Keeneland yearling purchase won 2 of 7 as a 2 yo, and did especially well in races in which he didn’t face Afleet Alex, for whom he was no match in three attempts