Sun Jan 20 19:18:53 2008

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McCann's Mojave back to defend Sunshine Millions Classic

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Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Defending champion McCann's Mojave will take on 11 challengers in Saturday's sixth annual Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita Park. The $1 million race will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the track's synthetic surface.

Owned by Mike Willman, McCann's Mojave captured this race last year at Gulfstream Park finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Summer Book as a 33-1 longshot. The eight-year-old is the richest horse in the event with $1,361,555.

Last year the Steve Specht trainee won two of seven starts for $736,600. In his career he has won 11 of 30 starts.

McCann's Mojave will start from post 10 with regular rider Frank Alvarado in the saddle.

The lukewarm 7-2 morning-line favorite is Meadowlands Handicap winner Diamond Stripes. Owned by Four Roses Thoroughbreds, the five-year-old gelding will start from the inside post with Cornelio Velasquez riding.

Diamond Stripes is trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr. and has won five of 10 career starts for $795,645. Following his win at the Meadowlands, the gelding was eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He closed 2007 with a third in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Making a rare start on the main track will be turf specialist Go Between. The five-year-old has raced on the turf in 19 of his 21 career starts. He has earned $1,253,880 with six wins.

Go Between is owned by Peter Vegso and trained by Bill Mott. Garrett Gomez will have the riding assignment and break post nine. In his last start on a synthetic track, Go Between won the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland.

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. has entered a pair of five-year-olds in his first visit to Santa Anita. Padua Stables' Electrify will start from post eight with Eddie Castro riding and Gottcha Gold will be ridden by Chuck Lopez from the far outside post.

While this is Plesa's first trip to Santa Anita, he won the inaugural Sunshine Millions Classic with Best of the Rest in 2003 when it was run at Gulfstream Park.

"I haven't raced there (Santa Anita) before," Plesa said. "I was born in Seattle and my father rode way back when in California. He was there when they opened Del Mar, so Santa Anita is something I've heard about my whole life."

Electrify closed 2007 with a pair of wins at Calder and has won nine of 20 lifetime starts for $621,890.

Gottcha Gold, owned by Centaur Farms, captured the Iselin Handicap last year at Monmouth Park after his front running win at the track in the Salvatore Mile and was second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile behind Corinthian. In his career Gottcha Gold has won seven of 23 starts for $687,420.

Here is the complete field in post position order: Diamond Stripes, Cornelio Velasquez, 7-2; Bilo, Tyler Baze, 8-1; Buzzards Bay, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 8-1; Bold Chieftain, David Flores, 10-1; Celtic Dreamin, Alex Solis, 8-1; Now Victory, Mike Smith, 15-1; Seminole Native, Michael Baze, 12-1; Electrify, Eddie Castro, 5-1; Go Between, Garrett Gomez, 8-1; McCanns Mojave, Frank Alvarado, 12-1; Going Ballistic, Joe Talamo, 15-1; and Gottcha Gold, Chuck Lopez, 8-1.