East Hall to Seek Repeat Victory in Millions Classic Preview

December 10, 2019

Saturday’s $800,000 Millions Preview Program Features Eight Stakes

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – The fields for eight stakes were drawn Wednesday for the $800,000 Sunshine Millions Preview program Saturday at Gulfstream Park West.

The lucrative opportunities for Florida-bred horses will serve as stepping stones for Sunshine Millions Day Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.

H. Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice’s East Hall is scheduled to seek a repeat victory in the $100,000 Millions Classic Preview, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up that attracted a field of seven. The Bill Kaplan-trained gelding defeated multiple-stakes winner Wildcat Red last year to finish off a campaign that included victories in the Ohio Derby and Indiana Derby (G2). The 4-year-old son of Graeme Hall, who will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, is coming off a victory in the Sensitive Prince Stakes at Gulfstream Sept. 12.

Kaplan-trained Yourdreamsormine, a stakes winner during the Gulfstream summer meet, is scheduled to clash with his stablemate, as well as multiple-stakes winner City of Weston and late-developing Saraguaro, who captured the Florida Sire Stakes Foolish Pleasure last time out. Nauset Beach, Southern Barbecue and Aces for John round out the field.

The $100,000 Millions Distaff Preview attracted multiple-stakes winner Flutterby and eight other fillies and mares. Bred, owned and trained by 94-year-old Jerry Bozzo, Flutterby has win three of her last four starts, finishing second behind Merry Meadow in the Princess Rooney (G2) July 5. The 4-year-old daughter of Congrats, who is slated to be ridden by Luca Panici, is coming off back-to-back front-running victories in the Gold Mover and Added Elegance Stakes at Gulfstream.

Moment of Delight, a going-away winner of the Florida Sire Stakes Meadow Star last time out; My Miss Venezuela, who finished third in the Added Elegance; and Legal Laura, most recently an optional claiming allowance runner-up at Keeneland; are among Flutterby’s rivals in the seven-furlong Distaff.

Copper Water Thoroughbred Company’s Reporting Star headlines the $100,000 Millions Turf Preview, a 1 1/16-mile grass event for 3-year-olds and up. After finishing second in last year’s running, the Pat Parente-trained 5-year-old captured the Play the King (G2) at Woodbine in August.

Jacks or Better Farm’s Fellowship, who was pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)but didn’t draw into the field, is among 10 2-year-olds entered in the $100,000 Juvenile Sprint, a 6 ½-furlong dash. The Stanley Gold-trained Fellowship captured the $500,000 In Reality, the finale of the Florida Sire Stakes series Oct. 3.

The Millions Turf Sprint Preview, the Juvenile Fillies Sprint, the Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Juvenile Turf – all to be contested for $100,000 purses – round out the stakes portion of Saturday’s 10-race program.