Mexikoma Takes Sunshine Millions Classic

Team Valor International's Mexikoma, fifth in the Harlan's Holiday Stakes in his previous start in December, reeled in a determined Mr. Jordan in deep stretch to win the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Michael Dilger in the 1 1/8-mile event for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up, Mexikoma broke alertly, was shuffled back entering the first turn, and then re-established position on the outside as the field entered the backstretch. The 5-year-old Birdstone   horse moved into second past the three-quarter-mile mark and was the only challenger for Mr. Jordan at the top of the stretch.

Mr. Jordan finished fifth and last in the Jan. 9 one-turn-mile Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream, but it proved a good prep for him. The 4-year-old Kantharos   colt broke in mid-pack from post 9 but Bravo guided him toward the lead past an opening quarter-mile in :23.55.

Mr. Jordan then opened up a few lengths on the field through a half-mile in :47.16 and six furlongs in 1:11.17. As he passed the mile mark in 1:35.46, Mexikoma collared him to his outside, and Mr. Jordan gradually gave way.

Mexikoma won by 1 1/2 lengths over Mr. Jordan, who had 12 lengths on Catholic Cowboy in third. It was his first stakes victory.

Mexikoma, favored in the field of 10, covered the distance in 1:48.19 on a fast track and paid $4.60 to win. A $55,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring 2-year-olds in training auction, Mexikoma, out of the Toccet mare Toccet Over, was bred by Hickstead Farm.

"He broke sharp and then he got into a little trouble," Velazquez said of Mexikoma, his third winner on the Gulfstream card. "But we got into a nice position. I wanted to follow Joe Bravo's horse because I thought he was the horse to beat."

Mexikoma now has four wins in 11 career starts. He earned $147,250 for his Sunshine Millions Classic victory to push his bankroll to $290,554.

"This has been the target for him for quite a while, and thankfully it worked," Dilger said. "He has won many of his races closing from so far behind, and that style will make you nervous here at Gulfstream. I was glad that Johnny rode him the way he did."

In the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff, A. Bianco Holding's Mom'z Laugh rallied from fourth at the half-mile mark to win by a head over favored You Bought Her, who was ninth and last soon after the start. Legal Laura finished third.

Mom'z Laugh, a 4-year-old filly by Leroidesanimaux out of the Awesome Again   mare Cajun Dawn, was bred in Florida by Curtis Mikkelson and Patricia North. She covered the seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.96 for her first stakes victory.

It was the sixth career win for Mom'z Laugh, who came into the Distaff off of a victory in an entry-level allowance race. Trained by Marcus Vitali and ridden by Javier Castellano, Mom'z Laugh paid $12 to win.

"She took a long time to mature," Vitali said. "She had a lot of lumps, bumps, and growing pains as a young horse. I'm not the guy to rush 2-year-olds."