US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 25 January 2008 /

Nick Shiambouros is hoping the downpours hold off at Santa Anita...

One of the biggest weekends of racing stateside is in serious doubt after cancellations at Santa Anita due to heavy rain and hale in the area. I really find it hard to imagine that The Sunshine Millions weekend may not go ahead as scheduled, due to this unprecedented set of circumstances. It appears that the track cannot absorb any precipitation of any degree and at present is unraceable.

Due to logistical problems the meeting can't be transferred to Hollywood Park as the new tote system at Santa Anita is still in the test stage and Hollywood has only a handful of tote machines in operation.

This fiasco really has dealt racing in southern California a serious body blow and it could not have come at a worse time. This meeting really ignites the season so all we can do is hope that the rain stays away.

What little racing took place was well worth the wait as Champs Elysees gave us a treat with a spectacular display in The San Marcos when bolting up. Her Dam Hasili has thrown four Grade 1 winners and I believe that this filly will make it five by the end of the season proving that she is the broodmare of the century. Hasili has produced horses like Dansili, Banks Hill, Intercontinental and Heat Haze. Simply put she is the best broodmare of all time in my opinion.

Over at Oaklawn, Classify was turned over as second favourite in The American Beauty Stakes. I will forgive her this run as I think she needed it.

As for this weekend's action I can only hope that the California side of The Sunshine Millions does go ahead and if it does then I think Nasoba's Key will be very hard to beat in Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. As I have previously mentioned she is one of the bravest fillies I have ever seen and I hope the rain stays away for this $500,000 event.I hope she will be around [2.0] but I will take less.

In The Classic run on the same card my money will be on Gottcha Gold who ran a very good second to Corinthian in The Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile at Monmouth last year. I think he will be around [4.0] for the win.

In the sunshine state of Florida the other half of The Sunshine Millions should go off without a hitch and I think the Sunshine Millions Turf could well go to Icy Atlantic and my money will be down for this hot Grade 2 event. I will be backing her at around [4.0] for the win.

The Sunshine Millions weekend is a coast-to-coast series featuring Florida- and California-bred horses run at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. In recent years the weekend has grown in stature and popularity but the last thing it needs is for one half of the program to be interrupted or even cancelled. I am sure heads will roll as a result of this but before they do they should look at how a well run racecourse operates and try to learn from it.

Over at Oaklawn on opening day last Friday over 20,000 showed up for its historic 54-date season. In beautiful Hot Springs, Arkansas, racing is conducted in the old-fashioned way and as part of a tradition hot Salt Beef sandwiches were sold for a mere 50 cents each and the waiting in line began 90 minutes before the first race. People of all ages and generations come for this meeting in their droves. I don't think this wonderful racetrack will ever change in my lifetime, proving that if it isn't broke, don't fix it!

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