Maryland’s Jeremy Rose & Mike Trombetta Go To Sunshine Millions
The richest day of state-bred racing, the sixth annual Sunshine Millions, which pits Florida-breds against California-breds for $3.6 million in purses at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park, will have some Maryland flavor this year as horse trainer Mike Trombetta and jockey Jeremy Rose represent the state of Maryland at Santa Anita on Saturday, January 26.
Mike Trombetta will saddle Laurel Park-based Sweetnorthernsaint in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic. The now 5-year old gelding finished second in the 2006 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and was the betting favorite two weeks earlier in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Last year, the son of Sweetsouthernsaint finished fifth as the favorite in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park from the outside post. In his last start on December 29, Mike Trombetta’s star finished out of the money in a minor stakes at Turfway Park off a seven-month layoff.
“This has been the plan all along,” MikeTrombetta said. “We wanted to give the horse a rest and he never does well in the summer. We wanted to get a race over a synthetic surface before the Sunshine Millions and we wanted to get a sprint in him just to make him chase the bit. He is doing fantastic. I would have liked to see him place a little better in that race but it served its purpose.”
Trombetta has secured the riding services of jockey Victor Espinoza, who will work him at the Southern California track Saturday morning.
Jockey Jeremy Rose will have up to three Sunshine Millions mounts in the four races conducted at Santa Anita. The 28-year-old will ride Coli Bear in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint and Johns Groom in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash for trainer Steve Klesaris. He could also be aboard Better Than Bonds in the Sunshine Millions Classic, if the Graham Motion trainee is able to secure a spot in the field.
“It is always good to be part of big days like this,” Jeremy Rose said. “You get to ride good horses and that is what it comes down to. I think all have legitimate shots and that is the key.”
www.gulfstreampark.com
"Maryland’s Jeremy Rose & Mike Trombetta Go To Sunshine Millions" was posted on 11 January 2008 9:17 AM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Jockeys, Stakes Races, Trainers
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