Weekend recap (Feb 14th & 15th)
How’s Your Halo pulled off a $96.20 shocker in Saturday’s 31st running of the Richter Scale (G2). 2nd choice Ikegai set the pace and clearly held the place. 6-5 fav Tale of Ekati finished a disappointing 4th for the struggling Barclay Tagg.
Also on Saturday, Imperial Council returned in the pink for Shug (replay below), and the lightly raced, talented Empire Maker colt is a 3yo to watch. He should get better with distance/experience.

Any Limit went straight to the front and withstood a stretch challenge from heavy Pletcher fav Game Face to post a 1-1/4 …read more

Before I take a look at Super Bowl Sunday’s graded races, let’s review the big events run this week at the Gulf.

Thursday (1-29-09):
Old Hat (G3) runner-up Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality-Xtra Heat) won a 6f allowance race as Alan Garcia pleased and stopped the clock in a rapid 1:08.94. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is definitely headed back to the stakes ranks, and I would not want to tussle with the fleet miss around one turn.
Friday (1-30-09):
Old Hat (G3) show finisher Frolic’s Dream (Smoke Glacken) rebounded to nab the seven panel Forward Gal (G2) by 2.5 easy lengths. …read more

Saturday’s nine furlong Holy Bull (G3) is the longest Kentucky Derby prep so far, and eleven sophomores have signed up for the challenge.
Danger To Society (Harlan’s Holiday) is 2-2 for Robby Albarado/Ken McPeek, and he exits a smart course/distance tally off a layoff. He owns fine positional speed and lands an advantageous inner post.

Idol Maker (Empire Maker) has been on my radar screen since his upset flat mile debut win at Belmont. He hooked the fleet Old Fashioned in the Remsen (G2) 2nd time out, and he probably needed his local allowance prep for this. Todd Pletcher’s $310k …read more

A field of seven three-year-olds are set to contest Friday’s seven furlong Hutcheson (G2), and Hello Broadway is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
The Barclay Tagg trainee kicked off his career with a neck victory at Saratoga last August, then finished an okay 5th when thrown to the wolves in the Champagne (G1).
He bounced back with a game place finish behind today’s rival Break Water Edison when last seen in Aqueduct’s Nashua (G3), and this is a perfect starting point for his Derby march.

Break Water Edison had a busy juvenile campaign with four stakes appearances, and he finally …read more

Wednesday (1-21-09) Gulfstream Park preview
Wednesday’s 10-race card includes a stakes quality turf feature (race 8). There is a Pick 6 carryover of $32,092.
Weather: Mostly sunny. High 58.

Race 3: Pampered King (8-1) is a $325k Keeneland sales grad making his 3rd start off shelf, and Motion is 23% with this type of dropper. He reunites with winning pilot Rene Douglas.
Race 6: Ariel Rose (12-1) switches surfaces and adds blinkers. Steve Standridge is a profitable 18% with special weight droppers. and she looms a pace factor at the very least.
Race 8: My MySpace free selection of the day. …read more

Gulfstream Park is off to a flying start after fans flocked to the racing venue for Saturday’s strong opening day card.
Delightful Kiss stormed from 14th and last for a going away tally in the 19th running of the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope.
Johnny V booted home a pair, and Wesley Ward saddled two winners on the card, including romping Spectacular Bid winner Notonthesamepage.
Sunday’s feature race is the Grade 3 Old Hat for three-year-old filly sprinters, and all eyes are on Kiaran McLaughlin’s impressive debut winner Elusive Heat. $750k purchase is out of fleet mare Xtra Heat, and …read more

The highly anticipated 2009 Gulfstream Park meet begins on Saturday with a wide open renewal of the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Handicap.
Former Louisiana Downs racing secretary Doug Bredar takes over that same post at the Gulf. He did a great job for us last year, and look for more of the same in Florida. Good luck Doug!
The Hal’s Hope will be run at a flat mile around one turn, and early/pressing types from middle to outer posts dominated at this distance last year. Bribon (5-1) fell too far back in the Cigar Mile (G1) last time. Alan Garcia rides the …read more