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Off the Jak, Golden Mystery take Sunshine Millions sprints

Off the Jak gave the Parbhoo another major sprint stakes win at Gulfstream (Adam Coglianese Photography) What was already expected to be a memorable Saturday for the Parbhoo family got sweeter when their five-year-old gelding, Off the Jak, registered a 13-1 upset of the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park. Racing in the colors of Sherry Parbhoo, Off the Jak is trained by Shivananda Parbhoo, whose family's Trinniberg was favored to be named 2012 champion male sprinter at the Eclipse Awards ceremony at Gulfstream Park on Saturday night. Under Jose Alvarez, Off the Jak rated in fourth as 5-2 favorite Star Harbour sprinted out to an early lead while setting fractions of :22 and :45 1/5 over a sloppy track. The eventual winner caught that rival at the top of the stretch, opened up a 1 1/2-length advantage with a furlong to go, and held off the late charge of Bahamian Squall to win by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:10 1/5 for six furlongs. Off the Jak paid $28.20, $9.80 and $5.40.

Bahamian Squall, the second choice at 3-1, finished a half-lengths clear of Little Drama, with Close It Out, Star Harbour, Black Diamond Cat, Cajun Breeze, County Gun, Hello Prince, Bernie the Maestro and Shock'emagain completing the order of finish. Quiz Whiz was scratched.

Off the Jak spent the better part of his early career in claimers and starter allowances, but elevated his game last fall with back-to-back allowance wins at Calder. A disappointing eighth in his stakes debut in the November 10 Jack Dudley Sprint, he rebounded with a second-place effort in the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit on Gulfstream's opening day. He entered the Sunshine Millions off a close second to Indiano at 17-1 in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector on December 29. His record now stands at 18-4-7-2, $210,285.

"He's getting better and better. He's a nice horse," Shivananda Parbhoo said. "He's more relaxed every time he comes out. Coming to the race today the groom actually had to pull him to come over. But when he goes to the gate he's a totally different horse."

Bred in Florida by Big C Farm, Off the Jak was produced by the multiple stakes-place Quiet Lake, a daughter of Quiet American. Off the Jak descends from Grade 2 queen One Sum, a half-sister to 1981 Grade 1 Belmont winner Summing.

Golden Mystery retired a winner and will be sold next month at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky (Adam Coglianese Photography) Earlier Saturday, Farnsworth Stables' Golden Mystery headed into retirement on a winning note with an authoritative 5 1/4-length decision in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint for trainer Marty Wolfson. Rating in third as Becausei'mworthit set an opening quarter of :21 4/5, the seven-year-old Awesome Again mare advanced to second when 6-5 favorite R Holiday Mood seized command after a half-mile in :45 3/5. In the stretch, Golden Mystery surged to the lead along the inside and drew off to an easy win in a time of 1:11 for six furlongs. She returned $6, $3 and $2.20 as the 2-1 second choice. "I knew I was going to win the race," winning jockey Luis Saez said. "This was the perfect weather for her because she has a problem sweating. She broke well and Mr. Wolfson told me to put her in a good position, second or third, and when (Emma's Encore) went out wide, it was my opportunity. Once she got in front it was easy, all I had to do was ask her."

Emma's Encore rallied from the back of the pack to edge R Holiday Mood for second by a neck. Completing the order of finish were Wild Bout Tiffany, Isn't She Grand and Becausei'mworthit. Honey Chile was scratched.

Golden Mystery has been consigned to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale on February 11, and goes to sale with a record of 27-8-7-4, $450,223. Her lone previous stakes win occurred in the 2011 Mongo Queen at Monmouth Park, but she placed in five other stakes, including the Ocala and Grade 3 Sugar Swirl immediately before the Sunshine Millions.

Produced by the winning Saint Ballado mare Mysterious Angel, Golden Mystery is a half-sister to the Grade 3-placed Beloveda and to the dam of stakes winner Sinister Brew. Mysterious Angel is herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Voyagers Quest and multiple stakes winner One By the Knows.

Golden Mystery, who was bred in Florida by Adena Springs, counts as her fifth dam Miss Request, the champion three-year-old filly of 1948.

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