Saturday’s $500,000 Donn H. (G1) brings together two of the best older horses
in training, ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) and SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado), at
Gulfstream Park. Both runners will be making their five-year-old debut in the 1
1/8-mile event, which drew a total of six entrants.
Roses in May won his first five starts in 2004, distinguishing himself with
victories in the Whitney H. (G1) and Kentucky Cup Classic (G2), before turning
in an excellent runner-up finish to Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome
Again) in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). John Velazquez rides the Dale Romans
trainee, who is the 121-pound highweight.
Saint Liam finished second by only a neck to Ghostzapper in the Woodward S.
(G1) last September and then wrapped up his season with a strong 1 1/4-length
score in the Clark H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr.,
the bay horse will tote 119 pounds, including jockey Edgar Prado.
While the top two appear very formidable, EDDINGTON (Unbridled) and PIES
PROSPECT (Crafty Prospector) also merit respect. The former was classic-placed
last season and ended his sophomore campaign with a win in the Calder Derby
(G3). Eddington returned in sharp fashion this year, drilling optional claiming
foes by 8 3/4 lengths last month at Gulfstream, and could be much improved at
four for trainer Mark Hennig. The Nick Zito-trained Pies Prospect will enter the
Donn off a commendable 8 1/2-length triumph in the nine-furlong Fred W. Hooper
H. (G3) at Calder and is a three-time stakes winner.
The Donn field, from inside out with riders and weights, is Eddington, Eibar
Coa, 114; Pies Prospect, Javier Castellano, 114; SEEK GOLD (Touch Gold), Jerry
Bailey, 113; WISHINGITWAS (Sandpit [Brz]), Brice Blanc, 113; Roses in May; and
Saint Liam.
The $150,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) for three-year-old fillies will be run on
the Donn undercard and features a field of seven. Grade 2 heroine SIS CITY (Slew
City Slew) is the top draw for the 1 1/8-mile event. A respectable fourth in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the Dutrow-trained lass closed out her
juvenile season with a stellar 3 3/4-length win in the Demoiselle S. (G2).
Challengers include the Grade 2-placed IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile), who
opened this year with a nice allowance score at Gulfstream, and stakes winners
DANCE AWAY CAPOTE (Capote) and LEONA’S KNIGHT (Suave Prospect).
MOCITA (Boundary) will lead the post parade under a 115-pound impost that
includes Eddie Castro. Next comes Sis City, Velazquez, 121; In the Gold, Prado,
117; KRISTEN KRISTEN (Storm Boot), Blanc, 115; Dance Away Capote, Ramon
Dominguez, 119; Leona’s Knight, Carlos Olivero, 121; and JILL ROBIN L
(Precocity), Roberto Alvarado Jr., 117.
Sophomore fillies sprint 6 1/2 furlongs earlier on the program in the
$100,000 Old Hat S. (G3), which drew a field of seven. Top contenders include
the unbeaten MADDALENA (Good and Tough), who exits a sharp 6 3/4-length
allowance score for trainer Todd Pletcher, and Astarita S. (G3) winner TOLL
TAKER (Bernstein).
Sprinters will also be featured in the $100,000 Deputy Minister H. (G3) at
Gulfstream. The 6 1/2-furlong test features seven contestants, including KELA
(Numerous), who recorded victories last year in the Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup H.
(G1), Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), and Texas Mile S. (G3). Dwyer S. (G2)
hero MEDALLIST (Touch Gold) is another formidable win candidate off a 4
1/2-length triumph in the Kenny Noe Jr. H. Pletcher will send out
the once-beaten Grade 3 winner FOREST DANGER (Forestry), who has not started
since finishing second to Medallist in the Withers S. (G3) last May.