Lure Him In secures the 2024 running of the Sunshine Classic (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – C2 Racing Stable, Double B Racing Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch and Mach 1 Stables’ Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Lure Him In is entered to make a title defense as he chases an elusive ninth career victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Classic at Gulfstream Park.
The 22nd running of the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Classic for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up and 23rd renewal of the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf for Florida-bred fillies and mares 4 and older scheduled for one mile on the grass co-headline an 11-race program that begins at 12:20 p.m.
Based at Gulfstream with trainer Sam Wilensky, the 8-year-old Lure Him In last visited the winner’s circle following his determined head victory over Grade 3-winning millionaire Octane at odds of 7-1 in last year’s Sunshine Classic.
That victory came after running ninth in the 2023 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) against a field that included Octane, Group 1 winner O’Connor, millionaire Ny Traffic and Grade 2 winner Steal Sunshine.
“Going a mile and a sixteenth with the short first turn, we ran in the Harlan’s Holiday and we were pushed wide the whole time with him,” Wilensky said. “They got a big field for this one, but I feel like if he brings his ‘A’ game he should be tough.”
Lure Him In ran four times last spring and summer for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., three of them in graded company, before returning to Wilensky after running fifth in an optional claiming allowance on the Del Mar turf in August. Both his comeback races have been a mile at Gulfstream, finishing third in his return Nov. 22 and fourth to Sunshine Classic rival Secret Chat after chasing the pace in a similar spot Dec. 20.
“Obviously the other day wasn’t his best performance. [Jockey] Edwin [Gonzalez] said he kind of got stuck on the rail and it was really, really deep. He’s a big, heavy horse and he doesn’t really like that,” Wilensky said. “We like our post position and we’ll be ready to roll.”
Gonzalez returns to ride from Post 3 in a full field of 12 at co-topweight of 122 pounds.
“Secret Chat beat us the other day, but it’ll be interesting going two turns this time,” Wilensky said. “Lure Him In is a horse that has to be up there and involved. He doesn’t really come from out of it well, so hopefully we can get that trip.”
My Purple Haze Stables’ 5-year-old homebred Khozeiress also returns from last year’s Sunshine Classic where he encountered trouble both out of the gate and on the first turn and wound up sixth. It was the first time finishing worse than third in nine career tries at Gulfstream, including four wins.
“He likes Gulfstream a lot,” trainer Terri Pompay said. “He’s training really good and he’s a Florida-bred, and it just seemed the right spot to put him in. We ran him at Monmouth in the longer spots versus [going] three-quarters, seven-eighths where the pace was faster and he couldn’t close off it. He seems a lot better when he can run longer and you can kind of get him where you want him in the beginning, and then he still has some kick because he can relax a little more.”
Khozeiress won one of six starts last year and spent the summer facing the likes of Grade 1 winners Subsanador and Tapit Trice and Grade 3 winner Dean Delivers and stretches back out to two turns after running third in the seven-furlong FSS Marion County Dec. 14 at Tampa Bay Downs off a four-month layoff.
“We try to manage him the best we can and space his races out. He’s a classy old horse and he’s coming in fresh. We hope that we did the right thing and hope that he runs good, because he’s feeling good. Coming from Tampa that track tends to get them a little fitter. Horses that run off Tampa on to Gulfstream seem a little fitter than vice versa. Hopefully it all works out,” Pompay said. “He’s no cinch in there, but he has the back class and he’s doing really good right now.”
Luiz Saez rides Khozeiress from Post 2.
Championship Meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. entered the trio of Souper Watson, racing first off a $25,000 claim Dec. 6 at Woodbine, and three-time winners One Sharp Cookie and Holiday Pay. Secret Chat and Awesome Train, both riding two-race win streaks; Marion County winner Big Martini; Power Humor, Shaq Diesel, Belts ‘n Brooks and Lightning Tones complete the field.
