Experience prevails in Classic; youth takes Distaff

Despite not drawing much support from the betting public, Alix Nikke Hunt &

Mike Willman's homebred MCCANN'S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]) gave California-bred

runners a win in the richest race of Saturday's Sunshine Millions program, an

eight-race series pitting California-breds against Florida-breds at Santa Anita

and Gulfstream Park. Sent off as the 33-1 ninth choice in the 12-horse field,

McCann's Mojave captured the $1 million

Sunshine Millions Classic by three parts of a length to return $69.80,

$30.60 and $14.80 to his faithful supporters.

Even with this win, it wasn't enough to beat out the Florida-breds under the

scoring system, which awarded five points for first, three for second and one

for third. For the second year in a row, Florida won the Sunshine Millions

challenge, 37-35, over California.

Get Funky (Straight Man) broke on top in the Classic, leading through splits

of :23 1/5 and :46 4/5, but could never quite shake McCann's Mojave and jockey

Frank Alvarado in second. The pacesetter began to drop back and 4-5 favorite

Sweetnorthernsaint (Sweetsouthernsaint) moved up to take over through six

furlongs in 1:10 4/5, appearing ready for his first win since November. It

wasn't to be though, as the eventual winner asserted himself to take over,

withstanding the late runs of Summer Book (Notebook) and Silver Wagon (Wagon

Limit) to finish the 1 1/8-mile test over Gulfstream's fast dirt in 1:49 4/5.

"I wanted to be right there (on the pace). When he's in front, he's a gamble,"

Alvarado said. "He's not going to let anyone pass. He's a fighter and has a big

heart. At the quarter pole, I knew they had to come and get me."

McCann's Mojave moved to trainer Steve Specht's barn in November and proved best in the Union Square S. in his final start of 2006. His previous

stakes wins date back to 2005, when he captured the California Cup Classic H.

and Ack Ack H. The seven-year-old also had his picture taken in the 2004

editions of the Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Sensational Star H.

"I guess it was the change of scenery," Specht said. "I don't know that I've

done anything special since getting this horse. The owners just

wanted to give this horse a shot up north (in California). Sometimes these horses

can get in a rut. Going against softer company, he's been able to get his

confidence back."

McCann's Mojave, sixth in last year's Sunshine Millions Classic, is out of

the multiple-stakes winning Joni U. Bar (Nordic Prince). He now boasts

$1,174,955 in career earnings to go along with a 24-10-2-0 line.

Summer Book was worth $36.20 and $16.60 at 42-1, ending the $1,168.70 exacta

($1). Another half-length back in third, Silver Wagon returned $4.80 as the 3-1

second choice and finished the $7,147.30 trifecta ($1). Dry Martini (Slew Gin

Fizz), off at 13-1, rounded out the profitable 8-3-5-1 superfecta ($1), which

paid $37,220.80. It was two lengths farther back to Sweetnorthernsaint in fifth, who

was followed by Papi Chullo (Comeonmom), Rehoboth (Wagon Limit), Armenian Summer

(Siberian Summer), Texcess (In Excess [Ire]), Bob's Proud Moment (Proud and

True), Blazing Rate (Exchange Rate) and Get Funky.

Gottcha Gold (Coronado's

Quest) and Halos Sailing Sain (Halo's Image) were scratched.

Joint Effort dominated the Sunshine Millions Distaff (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) Earlier in the day at Santa Anita, Donald R. Dizney's homebred JOINT EFFORT (Runaway Groom) earned her second consecutive Sunshine Millions race. Last year, the chestnut miss was an easy 2 1/2-length winner of the Sunshine Millions Oaks at Gulfstream Park. The switch in venue didn't deter the four-year-old from adding the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff to her record, as she overtook heavy 6-5 favorite Take D' Tour (Tour d'Or) and drew off for the dominating five-length victory. Jockey Eddie Castro settled Joint Effort in midpack along the rail during the early running, which was carried out by No Sleep (Robyn Dancer) in :23 1/5 and then Take D' Tour through a half-mile in :46. The Florida-bred winner steadily made her way forward to be just a half-length back of six-year-old Take D' Tour by the time three-quarters had been run in 1:10 4/5. Moving out on the second turn, Joint Effort easily blew past Take D' Tour to complete 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt in 1:43 1/5. Trained by Dale Romans, Joint Effort posted victories in the Dogwood Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and La Troienne S. (G3) in addition to her Sunshine Millions Oaks score. She's also placed in four black-type events, including the Chilukki S. (G2) and a head second in the Falls City H. (G2) prior to this one. Joint Effort moved her record to 18-6-5-1 and increased her earnings $791,465.

"This is a big one because it's her first win around two turns with tested

company," Romans said. "I think it opens up a whole lot of doors and it gives her

another racetrack she seems to like. We don't have anything in mind (for her

next race) but I'm sure it will have something to do with Churchill Downs."

Joint Effort is out of the Conquistador Cielo mare C. C. Princess, who has

also produced an unraced sophomore named Spirit Soars (Anet) and an unraced

juvenile called Silver Lining (Runaway Groom).

Sent off the 6-1 fourth choice in the 12-horse field, Joint Effort paid

$14.60, $6.40 and $5.20 while keying the $19.20 exacta ($1), $198.90 trifecta

($1) and $938.40 ($1) superfecta (5-4-2-1). Take D' Tour was 2 3/4 lengths clear in

second, returning $3.20 and $2.60, while Getback Time (Gilded Time) was worth

$7.80 at 18-1. Next under the line were Dancing General (General Meeting),

Somethinaboutlaura (Dance Floor), Bit of Folly (Olympio), Saffronista (Ecton

Park), Friel's For Real (Sword Dance [Ire]), Yearly Attitude (Event of the

Year), Purrfectly Fitting (Iron Cat), No Sleep and Beneficial Bartok (Bartok

[Ire]).

 Preciousness (Exchange Rate) was withdrawn.