In Summation, Georgie Boy Headline Sunshine Millions Sprint

In Summation, winner of Santa Anita's El Conejo Handicap on January 1 and one of the nation's top sprinters, will face 10 rivals including Georgie Boy and Machismo in Saturday's $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at Santa Anita.

In Summation, a winner of 10 stakes races including Del Mar's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Handicap in 2007, has five wins on synthetic tracks. Trained by Christophe Clement for Waterford Farm, the 6-year-old Florida-bred has earned more than $1 million.

Georgie Boy, trained by Kathy Walsh for George Schwary, has 4 wins from 9 starts, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes.

Machismo, a 5-year-old son of Trippi trained by John Sadler for owners Barber and Barber, was runner-up to In Summation in the El Conejo.

In Summation Heads Three Grade 1 Winners in El Conejo

In Summation with Nicholas Bachalard, assistant trainer to Cristophe Clemente, in the Santa Anita paddock 12/30/08.

Edited Santa Anita press release.
In Summation, fourth in October’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, will be among three Grade I stakes winners in a field of five set to contest Santa Anita’s 28th running of the Grade III, $100,000 El Conejo Handicap at 5-1/2 furlongs on Thursday, New Year’s Day.

A newly-turned 6-year-old trained by Christophe Clemente for Waterford Stable, In Summation is the defending champion after setting a stakes record of 1:01.27 when victorious one year ago.

Rafael Bejarano will be aboard the Florida-bred who was assigned 120 pounds and will break from the outside post. In Summation has earned $1,115,066. His record of 10-6-1 in 26 starts includes a victory in Del Mar’s Grade I Bing Crosby Handicap in 2007.

Black Seventeen, seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after taking the Grade I Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park, was assigned high weight of 121 pounds. Clinton Potts rides the 5-year-old trained by Brian Koriner. Black Seventeen has posted a 4-2-1 record in 11 races for earnings of $536,077.

Garrett Gomez is scheduled to ride Johnny Eves after riding the 5-year-old gelding to victory in the Nov. 22 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes, a Grade III event at Hollywood Park. Johnny Eves, victorious in Santa Anita’s Grade I Malibu Stakes in 2007, will carry 119 pounds. The California-bred, trained by Jay Robbins, shows a record of 6-4-0 in 18 starts with earnings of $485,120 for Mooncoin LLC.

The complete field for the El Conejo Handicap, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Machismo, Mike Smith, 115; Its in God’s Hands, Martin Garcia, 109; Johnny Eves, Garrett Gomez, 119; Black Seventeen, Clinton Potts, 121, and In Summation, Rafael Bejarano, 120.

Machismo Schools at Santa Anita

Machismo schooling in the Santa Anita paddock 12/30/08.

Machismo schooled Tuesday morning for trainer John Sadler at Santa Anita, in preparation for the $100,000 El Conejo Handicap on New Year's Day. Jockey Mike Smith has the call. Here's how the field shapes up:

The 28th Running of The El Conejo Handicap (Grade III)
$100,000 Guaranteed - Five And One Half Furlongs
4-Year-Olds and Up

1  MACHISMO            04 G 115 Smith, M     Sadler, John
2  ITS IN GOD'S HANDS  05 G 109 Garcia, M    Miller, Peter
3  JOHNNY EVES         04 G 119 Gomez, G     Robbins, Jay
4  BLACK SEVENTEEN     04 H 121 Potts, C     Koriner, Brian
5  IN SUMMATION        03 H 120 Bejarano, R  Clement, Christophe