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After the Wire - 2/12/2012 (video)

Evan Hammonds recaps the Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Fed Biz and Spring Hill Farm.

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Oaklawn Handicap Among Options for Hymn Book

Emerging national handicap division star Hymn Book will eventually return to New York, trainer Shug McGaughey said Feb. 12, but the Donn Handicap (gr. I) victor could be headed for Arkansas first.

Hymn Book Survives in Thrilling Donn Handicap

Stuart Janney III's homebred Hymn Book tallied the biggest win of his career Feb. 11 at Gulfstream Park, roaring down the center of the track and outlasting Mission Impazible to take the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I).

THS: Donn Handicap 2012

Jason Shandler and Tom LaMarra handicap the Donn Handicap and Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

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Trickmeister Trying to Steal Donn Spotlight

Shackleford and Ruler On Ice might be the headliners for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 11 at Gulfstream, but the smart money could wind up landing on a pair of Rick Dutrow Jr. trainees--Trickmeister and Redeemed.

Force Freeze Looks Ready for Season Debut

Force Freeze continued to impress trainer Peter Walder Feb. 4 while preparing for a scheduled start in the Gulfstream Park Sprint (gr. II) in two weeks.

Soaring Empire Likely for Donn After 5F Drill

Soaring Empire breezed five furlongs in 1:01 flat Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park, and trainer Cam Gambolati confirmed him as a probable starter in the upcoming $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I).

Ruler On Ice Still Targeting Feb. 11 Donn

Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last year, could resurface Feb. 11 in the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Ruler On Ice Posts Bullet Move for Donn

Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last spring, drilled a half-mile in :47 flat at Palm Meadows Training Center Jan. 21 for trainer Kelly Breen as he gets near his 2012 season debut in the Donn Handicap.

Trickmeister Remains Unbeaten in Comeback Win

Undefeated Trickmeister, making his first start in nearly 16 months, showed little rust Dec. 17 at Gulfstream Park, winning the $60,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths for his fifth consecutive triumph.

Albertus Maximus to Stand at Shadwell

Albertus Maximus, winner of the 2009 Donn Handicap (gr. I) and the previous year's TVG Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, has been retired from racing for stallion duty in 2012 at Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm near Lexington.

Millionaire Brass Hat Retired at 10

Fan favorite Brass Hat, a millionaire who won 10 of 40 starts in a remarkable career that saw him overcome two serious injuries, has been retired, trainer Buff Bradley said May 24.

Giant Oak Rallies to Post Donn Upset

Giant Oak, who won the Clark Handicap (gr. I) via disqualification last out, validated that win by posting a rallying victory in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

THS: Donn Handicap 2011

Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. I).

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You Make the Call: The Donn 2001-2010

From Captain Steve to Quality Road, rank the last 10 winners of the Donn Handicap.

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Fly Down, Morning Line Top Loaded Donn 'Cap

Nick Zito trainees Fly Down and Morning Line, both thought to be among the top handicap horses in 2011, could wind up as the top two choices in a star-studded Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

Donn Handicap Trio Post Workouts in Florida

Three probable starters in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park -- Giant Oak, Eldaafer and Rule -- posted workouts during the morning of Jan. 30.

Albertus Maximus Could Return Next Year

Albertus Maximus, who won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and 2009 Donn Handicap (gr. I) in consecutive starts but has been sidelined for the better part of two years, could be returned to training in 2011 when he is 7.

Quality Road Breaks Own Track Record in Donn

Quality Road broke his own nine-furlong track record that he set last year at Gulfstream Park, turning in a dazzling performance when crushing the field the field Feb. 6 in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I).

THS: Robert Lewis & Donn

Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of brisnet/Twinspires.com preview the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) and the Donn Handicap (gr. I). Plus, quick picks for the Gulfstream Park Turf and the Hallandale Beach.

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Quality Road Looks Like a Handful in Donn

With his setbacks apparently behind him, Quality Road looks to continue what his connections hope will be a stellar 4-year-old campaign in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 6 at Gulfstream

Quality Road Tops Donn Handicap Nominees

Edward P. Evans' 2009 Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Quality Road leads a list of notable nominees for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 6 at Gulfstream Park.

Quality Road Works Toward Donn

Edward P. Evans' homebred colt Quality Road worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 Sunday morning for trainer Todd Pletcher as he continues preparation for his next start in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) Feb. 6.

Gulfstream Reissues Offer to Zenyatta, Rachel

Whether Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra is the better horse is a question Gulfstream Park president and general manager Ken Dunn believes best answered in the Feb. 6 Donn Handicap (gr. I). The race will be run the day before the Super Bowl in nearby Miami Gardens.

Albertus Maximus Wins Donn; Dubai Next

Albertus Maximus wore down a stubborn Finallymadeit in the final stages to win the $489,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) in the 5-year-old's first start for Shadwell Stable and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Nicanor Finishes 10th in Career Debut

Nicanor's debut wasn't one to remember. The 3-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro finished 10th in a one-mile maiden race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31, hardly an encouraging step toward what his connections hoped would be a journey into this year's Triple Crown races.

That Handicapping Show: Donn (Video)

Evan and Tom analyze the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 31. The Wizard has a pair of Spotlight Plays, the Forward Gal on Friday, January 30 at Gulfstream, and Race 5 at Fair Grounds on Saturday, January

Einstein Set for Season Debut in Donn

Three-time grade I winner Einstein drew the outside post for his 2009 debut in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I), when he attempts to add a grade I victory on dirt to his impressive record Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park.

Einstein Working Toward Donn Handicap

Midnight Cry Stables' Einstein, a two-time winner of the Gulfstream Park Turf (gr. IT), won't go for the three-peat in that race, but will challenge the other grade I race that weekend, the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Gulfstream main track Jan. 31.

Brass Hat Back For More in 2009

After a disappointing 2008 campaign in which he went winless in five starts, trainer Buff Bradley thought the end may had finally come for 7-year-old Brass Hat, a fan favorite who had claimed seven stakes victories in his sensational career.

Brass Hat on Sidelines with Injury

Brass Hat has an injury that will keep him from training for the next three months, which means he could not race before 2009, if all goes well. The 7-year-old gelded son of Prized suffered a strained suspensory ligament in his left leg.

Donn Often Springboard to Dubai

Seven former Donn Handicap winners have gone on to compete in the $6 million Dubai World Cup.

Brass Hat a Rarity in Racing

In a day and age when retiring graded stakes winners as 3-and 4-year-olds is the now the norm, the Thoroughbred racing industry is in desperate need of older superstars. Gutsy horses that fans can get attached to and follow for the better part of a decade.

No Stopping Invasor in Donn Handicap

Horse of the Year Invasor, all but stopped when hemmed in on the inside leaving the final turn of Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I), would not be denied victory after gathering himself under Fernando Jara and rallying to win at Gulfstream Park.

Horse of Year Invasor Returns in Donn Handicap

Shadwell Stable's 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor shoulders top weight of 123 pounds as the 6-to-5 morning line favorite in his long-awaited return in Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park.

Invasor Works Five Furlongs for Saturday's Donn

Shadwell Stable's Invasor worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 Saturday morning at Palm Meadows in final preparation for next Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. 1) at Gulfstream Park.

Invasor, Premium Tap Top Donn Noms

Shadwell Stable's 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor tops the imposing roster of nominations released for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3. The 5-year-old Argentine-bred is expected to be the marquee name on the most highly anticipated card offered in the nation this year.

Strong Contender OK for Donn, Ward Says

John Oxley's 4-year-old Strong Contender wasn't seriously injured when clipped from behind in the roughly run Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 6 and remains on target for the Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 3.

Invasor Tunes Up for Donn Handicap

Likely Horse of the Year Invasor, winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) is on target for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park after a four-furlong breeze at unseasonably warm Belmont Park Sunday.

Ignored Brass Hat Dominates Donn Handicap

Fred F. Bradley's often overlooked homebred Brass Hat absolutely dominated the field in Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at sloppy Gulfstream Park for his third straight stakes victory since mid-December.

Tight Donn Part of Gulf Stakes Action Saturday

Elisabeth Alexander's 4-year-old Magna Graduate and Jay Em Ess Stable's 5-year-old Suave will be among the choices in the field of nine entered for Saturday's $500,000, 1 1/8-mile Donn Handicap (gr. I). They finished one-two in the Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Nov. 25, with Magna Graduate taking the nod by a head.

Suave Breezes at Gulfstream; Donn Next

Jay Em Ess Stable's 5-year-old Suave, among the nation's top older horses in 2005, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Gulfstream Park Sunday in preparation for the Feb. 4 Donn Handicap (gr. I).

Saint Liam Makes Believers in Donn Blowout

After nearly blowing the final turn, Saint Liam won the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) with authority Saturday at Gulfstream Park, pulling away by 3 3/4 lengths at the end.

Roses in May, Don of the Donn

A field of six will contest the 47th running of the grade I Donn Handicap, traditionally the opening salvo of the handicap divisional season. This year's edition includes 2004 Eclipse Award finalist Roses in May and last year's Clark Handicap (gr. II) winner St. Liam--both of whom tussled with Horse of the Year Ghostzapper.

Zito Readies for Big Weekend at Gulfstream Park

Trainer Nick Zito is preparing for a big weekend at Gulfstream Park, saddling runners in the Donn Handicap (gr. I), Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II), Old Hat Stakes (gr. III), and Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), as well as celebrating his 57th birthday.

Roses in May Breezes, Has Sights on Donn

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Roses in May, early favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap, posted a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 4/5 for trainer Dale Romans Saturday at Palm Meadows training center.

Eddington Impresses in Gulfstream Return

The twice classic-placed Eddington had an easy time of it Sunday, crushing his field in the $37,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.

Saint Liam Headed to Florida for 2005 Donn

Clark Handicap (gr. II) winner Saint Liam is to ship to Florida's Palm Meadows training center Wednesday, where he'll be prepared for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I), his next target at Gulfstream Park Feb. 5.

Roses In May to Rest, Will Skip Clark

Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Roses In May, the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) runner-up Oct. 30, will not run in the Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26.

Medaglia d'Oro Favored Over Funny Cide for Saturday's Donn

The first major showdown of the 2004 season takes place at Gulfstream Park Saturday as Funny Cide, last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner, meets Medaglia d'Oro, one of the best older horses in training, in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles.