Wildcat Red Blitzes Five Panels at Gulfstream

Multiple graded stakes winner Wildcat Red sizzled through a five-furlong breeze over the Gulfstream Park main track the morning of Jan. 4 in preparation for the upcoming $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic.



With Carlos Olivero aboard, the 4-year-old son of D'wildcat   went five-eighths in :57.48, getting the last eighth of a mile in 11 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.



"He worked very good, very impressive," trainer Jose Garoffalo said. "I was really surprised because he was doing it without a big effort. He galloped out very strong and came back very happy, bucking and kicking. He's ready to run."



Also gearing up for the Jan. 17 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream is East Hall, who turned in a sharp five-furlong breeze of 1:00.48 over the main track Sunday.



Josie Martino, who lives in Venezuela and owns Wildcat Red with her husband, Salvatore Delfino, as Honors Stable, was on hand for the work. It was the colt's fourth since ending his 2014 campaign running second to East Hall in the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview Nov. 8 at Gulfstream Park West (Calder Race Course).



"I was telling my owner that I wish the race was next week because the horse is doing better than ever, and he absolutely loves this track," Garoffalo said. "He's a different horse on this track. Next week he'll just have a routine breeze. We're ready for the race."



The Florida-bred bay colt won five of 13 races in his career with four seconds and two third-place finishes, earning $929,450, all but about $80,000 of that coming last season.



Garoffalo has not lined up a rider for the Sunshine Millions. He had hoped to have the services of Javier Castellano, who rode Wildcat Red to victory in the Hutcheson (gr. III) last February, but the three-time defending Gulfstream leading jockey is committed on Florida-bred allowance winner Transparent for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.



"I have no commitment from any rider right now," Garoffalo said. "I'm waiting for an answer from Joel Rosario. He would be our first choice now. The most important thing I always say is how the horse is doing. We'll find another rider later. He was super today."



Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice's East Hall also looked good approaching his anticipated 4-year-old debut in the 1 1/8-mile race.



The Florida-bred grade II winner turned in the fifth-fastest drill of 24 horses at the distance Sunday. It was the second breeze for son of Graeme Hallsince ending his 2014 season with a two-length victory over Wildcat Red.



"He worked beautiful, absolutely beautiful," trainer Bill Kaplan said. "We just let him cruise around there. I said to just let him do whatever he wanted to do down the lane, and he went nice."



Jockey Juan Leyva was aboard for the work, but Kaplan said Luis Saez will return to ride in the Sunshine Millions. Saez was up for East Hall's victories in the Classic Preview and Indiana Derby (gr. II).



East Hall won three of his last four starts in 2014, and he ran 11 times overall during the year.



"There was nothing wrong with him; we just gave him a little break," Kaplan said. "He had a hell of a campaign. We took it easy on him for a month and we're just starting to bring him back now. He'll have one more work next week and then we'll be ready to go."



In his career, East Hall has five wins, three seconds and four thirds with earnings of $723,305 from 19 starts, all but three in his native Florida.



"He's gained some weight, he's stronger, he's very happy and he's fresh," Kaplan said. "We're looking forward to a big year with him, but in this business we have to keep our fingers crossed."