Wildcat Red vs. East Hall in Millions Classic

Back at Gulfstream Park, Wildcat Red appears the one to beat in the $250,000 Sunshine Million Classic on Jan. 17.

The 4-year-old son of D'Wildcat   has recorded all five of his career wins at the South Florida oval, including a victory in the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 22 of last year.

"I think the track is a factor here that helps him," trainer Jose Garoffalo said. "His speed helps him on this track. The surface is best for him. It's better for him that he doesn't have to ship to race. That's an advantage when you race on your home track and you have a horse that likes the track."

In his other three starts at Gulfstream, Wildcat Red has finished second, including a strong effort in last year's $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr I), in which was beaten just a neck by Constitution.

Purchased for $30,000 at the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2-year-olds-in-training sale, Wildcat Red could become a millionaire with a victory in the Sunshine Millions Classic, one of five stakes restricted to horses bred in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland on Saturday's modified $700,000 Sunshine Millions program.

"Personally, it's a gift to have a horse like that, especially for a guy like me who can't invest too much money in buying horses," said Garoffalo, who trains Wildcat Red for the Honors Stable Corp. "It's very rewarding because we have to pick a horse in our budget."

Wildcat Red finished a troubled 18th in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), but rebounded on his home track with a sharp 10 1/4-length triumph in the Quality Road Stakes in June. He's been winless in four subsequent starts on the road, finishing third in the $1 million Haskell (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, fifth in the $500,000 Ketel One King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, third in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) at Remington Park, and second in the $100,000 Millions Classic Preview at Gulfstream Park West in his most recent start on Nov. 8.

East Hall won the Millions Classic Preview, defeating Wildcat Red by two lengths, and once again could prove his main foe. Last year, East Hall also took the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown and the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Indiana Grand Race Course after finishing behind Wildcat Red in the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Derby.

"We ran him before that in the Florida Derby, the Gulfstream Park Derby, and he ran good in all those races against the best horses in the country," said trainer William Kaplan, who conditions East Hall for H. Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice. "In the Ohio Derby, you're not running against the horses he ran against here. You have the second tier, and he was able to handle those second-tier horses."

Earlier on the card, Toasting appears the one to beat in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff that drew a large field of 13.

"She's training really well," said trainer Tom Albertrani, who will start Toasting for West Point Thoroughbreds. "We gave her a little time off, but she's training as well as I'd expect her to coming into this race."

In her last start, Toasting finished third in the $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III) at Belmont Park on Oct. 26.