Hutcheson, Forward Gal rare Friday highlights at Gulfstream

A big weekend of racing at Gulfstream Park kicks off Friday with a pair of

three-year-old sprints. The $150,000

Hutcheson S. (G2) over seven furlongs will garner the most attention as it

has been the traditional springboard to the track's main Kentucky Derby (G1)

preps -- the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and the Florida Derby (G1). Though it had

to compete for horses with the nine-furlong Holy Bull S. (G3) the following day,

the Hutcheson has attracted a quality field of seven.

The John Kimmel-trained BREAK WATER EDISON (Lemon Drop Kid), who rebounded

from modest finishes in the Hopeful S. (G1) and Champagne S. (G1) to take the

Nashua S. (G3) at Aqueduct in his juvenile finale, is one of the more highly

regarded Derby candidates prepping in Florida this winter. A debut winner and

runner-up in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) in his first two starts, the bay

pressed a fast pace and retreated in the Hopeful, then endured a wide journey

when badly beaten in the Champagne. Break Water Edison broke from the rail in

both contests, but drew a more advantageous post in the one-mile Nashua and drew

off to a 1 3/4-length score, which earned him a 105 BRIS Speed rating.

For the Hutcheson, Break Water Edison will have to overcome another rail draw,

but will again have the services of Alan Garcia, who has ridden the colt to both

of his career wins.

HELLO BROADWAY (Broken Vow), who rallied to finish second in the Nashua by a

neck, will also make his sophomore debut Friday. The Barclay Tagg charge was a

Saratoga debut winner in late August, then was an even fifth in the Champagne

after an early bump. Owner Elizabeth Valando, along with her late husband, Tommy,

campaigned 1991 Hutcheson winner Fly So Free, their juvenile champion from the

previous year.

Like Hello Broadway, CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride [Arg]) won at first

asking at Saratoga. The Ian Wilkes-conditioned colt eventually made his way to

Kentucky, winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs by a comfortable three

lengths, but coughed up a significant lead in his next start in the two-turn

Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2). Despite being rank early, the gelding fought to

the wire only to miss by a half-length.

The Hutcheson field is completed by SALO JAK (Graeme Hall), a winner of three

straight including the Jack Price Juvenile at Calder two back; ROCKETING RETURNS

(Gone West), a Calder allowance winner for Nick Zito; Z DAY (Five Star Day), an

Aqueduct maiden winner last out; and minor stakes winner BEE CEE CEE

(Songandaprayer), a distant third in the Spectacular Bid S. earlier this month.

Separated by two noses at the finish of the January 4 Old Hat S. (G3), three-year-old fillies GEMSWICK PARK (Speightstown) and FROLIC'S DREAM (Smoke

Glacken), the respective first- and third-place finishers in the race, will

renew their rivalry in the $150,000

Forward Gal S. (G2), also over seven-eighths. Gemswick Park, who placed in

the Frizette S. (G1) and Tempted S. (G3), and Frolic's Dream, who incurred her

first defeat in the Old Hat in four outings, will be joined by Grade 3 vixen C.

S. SILK (Medaglia d'Oro), who concluded her juvenile campaign with a second in

the Delta Princess S. (G3) at Delta Downs.

Other notables among the field of seven are multiple stakes winner RENDA (Medaglia

d'Oro), who faltered to 10th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her

grass debut, and DR. ZIC (Milwaukee Brew), who remained perfect in two starts

with a wire-to-wire score in the Sandpiper S. at Tampa Bay Downs on December 27.

Friday's program serves as a prelude to blockbuster weekend cards. In

addition to the Holy Bull, Gulfstream on Saturday will host its premier race for

older horses, the Donn H. (G1) at nine furlongs. Sunday's main attraction is the

Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1) over 1 1/8 miles, with the Suwannee River H. (G3)

for fillies and mares going nine furlongs on turf as the supporting feature.