A 'SHINE ON THESE JOCKEYS.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI

ARCADIA - Who is America's next great jockey? When Jerry Bailey hangs 'em up Saturday after more than a decade as king of the high-stakes riders, capping a four-year wave of retirements by Hall of Fame jockeys, fans won't have to look far for would-be successors to that tiny leather throne.

Bailey, 48, is scheduled to compete for the last time aboard Silver Tree in the Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park near Miami, part of the Sunshine Millions afternoon of races pitting Florida-breds against California-breds.

Because the Sunshine Millions is split between the winter's two major tracks - four races at Gulfstream and four at Santa Anita - most of the nation's best jockeys will be in action in the NBC-televised event. The top nine and 18 of the top 25 money-winners of 2005 will be in the program, as will eight of the 10 Eclipse Award vote getters and three of the four active Hall of Famers. It's an open audition for the role of Bailey, not to mention those of recent retirees Chris McCarron, Eddie Delahoussaye, Laffit Pincay, Julie Krone, Pat Day and Gary Stevens.

East Coast-based John Velazquez is heir apparent, having won the 2004 and '05 Eclipse Awards as North America's outstanding jockey. But because Velazquez is closely tied to trainer Todd Pletcher, ambitious riders have plenty of other major barns to court as they carve up Bailey's business.

``There are a lot of great prospects out there,'' said Alex Solis, the California veteran who will be at Gulfstream with three Sunshine Millions mounts. ``The ones who are the most hungry are going to be the ones to lead. But it's going to be hard to match the guys who retired.''

Headed by Day ($297 million), who retired last summer, and Bailey ($295 million), the seven recently departed Hall of Famers rode winners of $1.5 billion.

Desormeaux - one of the Hall of Famers riding in the Sunshine Millions, along with Mike Smith and Russell Baze - said Thursday he has trimmed his riding weight from 118 to 116 pounds.

When did that happen? Desormeaux was asked.

``When Bailey retired,'' he said, only half-joking.

Bailey, who overcame alcoholism, was 38 years old before he won an earnings title and the first of his record seven Eclipse Awards.

Of 2005's top earners, six are in their 20s - Rafael Bejarano is 23, Javier Castellano 28, Ramon Dominguez 29, Shaun Bridgmohan 26, Tyler Baze 23 and Eddie Castro 21; Bay Area phenomenon Martin Garcia is 20.

In their 30s but still on the young side of Bailey's breakthrough age are Velazquez at 34, Victor Espinoza 33, Cornelio Velasquez 37 and Corey Nakatani 35; Desormeaux is 35.

Edgar Prado and Garrett Gomez are 38, Mike Smith 40, Solis 41, Patrick Valenzuela 43 and Russell Baze 48.

``Probably a lot of people here know Prado and Velazquez,'' California jockeys agent Bob Meldahl said of the East Coast leaders, ``but they're not going to know the Castellanos and Bejaranos.''

There may never be another Bill Shoemaker, a jockey recognized by the general public, just because horse racing's popularity has slipped. But there will be another Jerry Bailey, just because somebody will fill that saddle.

Who? The possibilities will be in front of us Saturday.

--The lineup: The Sunshine Millions Classic, the first $1 million race of 2006, will be held at Santa Anita on Saturday, closing out the eight-race Sunshine Millions card that opens at 12:20 p.m. PST at Gulfstream and alternates between the two Magna Entertainment-owned tracks.

Lava Man (Nakatani riding), winless since the Hollywood Gold Cup, is the 3-1 favorite on Jeff Tufts' morning line, followed by Santa Anita Derby winner Buzzards Bay (Gomez) at 4-1 and Florida-based Whos Crying Now (Velasquez) at 5-1. The race drew 14 entrants, of which 12 will be allowed to start.

First post at Santa Anita on Saturday is 11:45 p.m.

In an earlier race, Valentine Dancer (Jon Court) tries to win the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf for the third year in a row.

--Bettors up: Exactly 100 days before the Kentucky Derby, betting on the May 6 race officially began Thursday.

The first round of Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Future Wager continues through Sunday. Ensuing rounds are set for March 2-5, weekend of the Santa Catalina and Fountain of Youth, and April 6-9, coinciding with the Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial.

Two-year-old champion Stevie Wonderboy is the 8-1 favorite on Mike Battaglia's morning line, with Brother Derek and First Samurai 10-1. You can hunt for bargains on 23 individual horses or choose ''all others,'' listed at 4-1.

The Daily Racing Form is publishing top 3-year-olds' past-performance charts.

In seven previous years of betting in this format, the only favorite to win the Derby was Fusaichi Pegasus, who paid $8 for a $2 bet in the third round in 2000. Funny Cide paid $188 to those who backed him in the first round in 2003.

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(1) OUT OF THE GATE

BY KEVIN MODESTI

(2) SUNSHINE MILLIONS