Eclipses are tonight

Gulfstream hosts horse racing’s biggest awards; our writers predict winners.

HALLANDALE BEACH — The trend toward downsizing has reached the Sunshine Millions, the opening act of a big Saturday at Gulfstream Park, which will conclude with the presentation of the 2016 Eclipse Awards.

The title this season for the series of races for Florida-bred horses is a misnomer. In previous years, a half-dozen stakes have had cumulative purses into seven figures. Only $600,000 will be distributed in five stakes this year, each of which has experienced a substantial purse reduction. A dispute between horsemen organizations over funding of the races is a contributing factor.

With three graded stakes last weekend and seven stakes next Saturday, headed by the $12 million Pegasus World Cup, the top of the horse population is severely taxed. Only 36 horses have been entered in the five stakes today, and there could be scratches with some trainers looking ahead to next week.

The nominal feature, the 1 1⁄8-mile $200,000 Classic, has attracted eight entrants, only three of which are stakes winners, one of those via disqualification. Awesome Slew, who took the Smarty Jones at Parx in September, is the horse to beat, coming off a third against a significantly stronger group in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday. He picks up Javier Castellano, Gulfstream’s leading rider for five straight years and an Eclipse finalist as the nation’s top jockey.

Awesome Slew’s strongest challenges could come from Piloting, a non-stakes winner who was second in the Classic Preview in November, and Hy Riverside, running back quickly from the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope on Jan. 14. The latter loses Castellano but gets Jose Ortiz, also an Eclipse finalist.

The other stakes each carry $100,000 purses. The most compelling confrontation comes in the 6-furlong Sprint. The seven-horse field is topped by Awesome Banner, winner of six of nine Gulfstream starts, and Delta Bluesman, a multiple stakes winner coming off a third in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.

Moment of Delight and You Bought Her, first and second, respectively, in the Preview, resume their rivalry in the 6-furlong Distaff Sprint. You Bought Her rebounded to run second, a length off rising star Dearest, in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl. John Velazquez, who rode her for the first time in that race, retains the mount. Moment of Delight, who has not run since the Preview, gets a new trainer, David Fawkes, and rider, Luis Saez.

Saez also has the mount on Mom’s on Strike, who figures to be a solid favorite against six rivals in the 1 1⁄16-mile Filly & Mare Turf. In her only grass start, she was second, beaten less than a length, in Belmont’s Pebbles. Family Meeting, winner of the 2015 Jimmy Durante at Del Mar but 0-for-seven since, could provide the strongest challenge. EB Ryder gets the perseverance award. This will be her fourth crack at this stakes with a second last year her best finish. She’s 0-for-15 the past two seasons but she’s from the barn of Marty Wolfson, who can never be dismissed in local stakes.

Saez could have a big day. He also has the mount on Reporting Star, who will be trying to get back to the winner’s circle for the first time since the Grade 3 Appleton in April. He hasn’t finished in the money in five starts since. Mike Maker, a crack grass trainer, has a formidable uncoupled entry. Enterprising won the Preview and Two Step Time has been third and second in stakes in his two most recent starts. Our Way, winner of a minor stakes at Saratoga, makes his first start against older off a three-month layoff.

First post for the 12-race program is at noon.