Sunshine Millions Turf Races Draw Top Fields

The $100,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf& at Gulfstream Park drew a well-matched field of 11, including several talented shippers, but they will all have to contend with three horses saddled by Marty Wolfson.

Earlier on the card, in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Turf,Reporting Star, third in the 2014 Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) and fifth in the Canadian International (gr. IT), will face nine opponents—including last year's Presque Isle Downs Mile winner Decisive Moment and Manchurian High, winner of last year's Laurel Turf Cup and a fast-closing third in the recent William L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) over the Gulfstream turf course.

Heading the Wolfson trio in the Filly and Mare Turf is E B Ryder, who finished a fast-closing second in this race last year. The 5-year-old daughter of Bluegrass Cat   also captured the Anka Germania Stakes over this turf course, and following a two-month layoff, she'll have the blinkers removed and acquires the services of John Velazquez. In her last start she faced the boys in the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview where she finished fourth, beaten five lengths.

"I gave her a little time off because I had to run her against the colts last time when the filly race didn't fill," Wolfson said. "It wasn't that bad a race, but I just wanted to freshen her up."

Wolfson will also send out the stretch-running Rock On Baby, who finished a fast-closing second in the 2013 Claiming Crown Tiara, then didn't make her next start until a year later when she again closed fast to finish second in the Tiara. This will be her fourth start for Wolfson.

"She had been off for a while. She hurt her back one day so I just gave her the time off," Wolfson said. "She's doing really good. She belongs in this."

Rounding out the Wolfson trio is Pink Poppy, who finished seventh in the Tropical Park Oaks, beaten only 2 3/4 lengths. The 4-year-old Tiznow   filly did not make her career debut until last year under the care of Chad Brown. In her first start for Wolfson she won an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park West before competing in the Tropical Park Oaks.

"She closed pretty well last time," Wolfson said. "I think she'll run good in here. I don't know if she's got that type of class to run with them, but we'll take a shot."

Those who do have the class are multiple stakes winners Effie Trinket, from the barn of Rick Violette; the Mike Maker-trained Awesome Flower, who has earned over $460,000; and Dame Dorothy, winner of the Turnback the Alarm Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park and third in the Comely Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack, both on dirt. The daughter of Bernardini   will be making her grass debut for trainer Todd Pletcher, but drew the far outside post in the field of 11, just outside Effie Trinket.

The 119-pound highweight for the Filly & Mare Turf is Florida-bred Speed Seeker, trained by Joan Scott, who captured the Ontario Colleen Stakes (Can-IIIT) last summer and finished fifth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the Lake George Stakes at Saratoga (gr. IIT).

Also entered are 2014 Beaugay Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Waterway Run; the stakes-winning Light Bringer, who drew the rail; stakes-placed Salamera; and maiden winner Peace Talk.

The Turf appears to be a battle among the top three, with Reporting Star getting the services of Javier Castellano for the first time. But the speedy son of Circular Quay will have to break sharply from post 9. Decisive Moment also has early speed, as does the quick-footed Iron Power, winner of his last two starts and first or second in his last five. The New York-bred son of Mizzen Mast  , however, will be making his stakes debut.

That could set things up perfectly for the closing kick of Manchurian High, who will be ridden by Luis Saez. Another horse with an outside shot is the hard-knocking Bad Debt, who will be making his 58th career start and has earned over $820,000. ridden by Paco Lopez, the 8-year-old son of Grand Reward is coming off a fourth-place finish in the El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream, having won the Millions Turf Preview in his previous start at Gulfstream Park West.