(from Gulfstream Park report)
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.In addition to the Donn, the Hutcheson (gr. II), Holy Bull (gr. III), and three other graded stakes will be run on the outstanding program. The $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) and $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. II) are for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles and 6½ furlongs. The $100,000 Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT) is for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.Besides the rematch between Magna Graduate and Suave in the Donn, trainer Nick Zito saddles Robert V. LaPenta's team of Andromeda's Hero, Pies Prospect, and Seek Gold. Jockey John Velazquez rejoins Magna Graduate, who sets out on a new season for trainer Todd Pletcher after winning the Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) at Meadowlands, Discovery Handicap (gr. III) at Belmont Park, and Clark in his final three starts last year.Suave turned in an impressive win in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup (gr. III) in August for trainer Paul McGee. The homebred son of A.P. Indy was runner-up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) and a respectable fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Belmont Park, beaten just three lengths. Edgar Prado will have the mount.Each of the three Zito-trained runners has his own credentials, but the 4-year-old Andromeda's Hero with Rafael Bejarano in the saddle that may be the stable's best chance. The son of Fusaichi Pegasus was the distant runner-up to Afleet Alex in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last spring.Though Magna Graduate handled Andromeda's Hero three times last fall, Zito's charge made a good impression winning the Fred W. Hooper Handicap (gr. III) at Calder Dec. 17, his last start.The 5-year-old Pine Bluff horse Super Frolic invades from Southern California for trainer Vladimir Cerin with Cornelio Velasquez getting the call. Super Frolic won the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) in Chicago and finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. II) behind Saint Liam.Brass Hat is a 5-year-old gelding by Prized shipping in from Turfway Park for trainer William "Buff" Bradley. Kentucky-based jockey Willie Martinez is reunited with Brass Hat, who captured the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) in his last outing.$500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I, Race 10, 5:20 p.m.), 3 & up, 1 1/8 miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. On Thin Ice (KY), 116, Shaun Bridgmohan
2. Suave (KY), 117, Edgar Prado
3. West Virginia (NY), 114, Christopher DeCarlo
4. Magna Graduate (KY), 119, John Velazquez
5. Super Frolic (KY), 118, Cornelio Velasquez
6. Seek Gold (KY), 113, Javier Castellano
7. Andromeda's Hero (KY), 115, Rafael Bejarano
8. Pies Prospect (KY), 114, Jeremy Rose
9. Brass Hat (KY), 118, Willie MartinezWonder Lady Anne L, part of trainer Rick Dutrow's powerful stable, heads a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Davona Dale.As a 2-year-old, the IEAH Stables and Joe Plumeri's filly was overshadowed by Breeders' Cup winners Saint Liam and Silver Train, but ended her campaign with a very impressive victory in the Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct in late November. The Demoiselle was the Real Quiet filly's first try around two turns and distance appears to be her strong suit.Ron and Ricki Rashinski's Bushfire and Joe Allen's Teammate, who battled to a head decision in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Jan. 13, could pose the biggest threats.
$150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II, Race 6, 3:17 p.m.), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Mia's Reflection (FL), 119, Manoel Cruz
2. Teammate (KY), 115, Cornelio Velasquez
3. Meadow Skippin (FL), 115, Mark Guidry
4. Stolen Prayer (FL), 119, Eddie Castro
5. Wait a While (KY), 119, John Velazquez
6. Bushfire (FL), 117, Edgar Prado
7. Wonder Lady Anne L (KY), 119, Rafael Bejarano
Faisal Salman's 4-year-old filly Olaya, who captured the 1 1/2-mile Long Island Handicap (gr. IIT) at Aqueduct in early November in her North American debut for trainer Graham Motion, returns in the Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT). A Kentucky-bred daughter of Theatrical, Olaya will be ridden by Edgar Prado as part of a full field of 12 fillies and mares. Olaya came to Motion after campaigning primarily at French provincial courses the previous two years.John Goodman's 4-year-old filly Marchonin has marched through her conditions during a four-race win streak for trainer Michael Matz. The 3-year-old daughter of Dixieland Band stepped up to win the Joy to the World overnight stakes last out at Calder Dec. 26.Sabine Stable's 4-year-old filly Laurafina won the Frances A. Genter Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Calder last time for trainer Robert Barbara on New Year's Eve, her first start since late July at Saratoga.$100,000 Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 7, 3:48 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & up, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Marchonin (KY), 114, John Velazquez
2. Olaya (KY), 116, Edgar Prado
3. High Court (BRZ), 114, Christopher DeCarlo
4. Noble Stella (GER), 114, Eddie Castro
5. Eyes On Eddy (KY), 114, Rafael Bejarano
6. Taittinger Rose (KY), 115, Cornelio Velasquez
7. Natalie Beach (ARG), 113, Javier Castellano
8. Moon Dazzle (KY), 112, Brice Blanc
9. Laurafina (KY), 114, Rafael Bejarano
10. Elle Runaway (KY), 113, Ramon Dominguez
11. Cotopaxi (KY), 113, Shaun Bridgmohan
12. On the Bus (NY), 114, Mark Guidry
Eyes on Eddy and Taittinger Rose entered for main track only.
Miraculous Miss and Marie and Yachats, highly promising and unbeaten 3-year-old fillies, will be the probable favorites among just six entered in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III)) at six furlongs.Puglisi Stable and trainer Steve Klesaris' Miraculous Miss is a chestnut daughter of Mr. Greeley purchased for $350,000 at the Timonium 2-year-old sales last spring. She is 3-for-3 for Klesaris, stepping up to capture the Valley Stream Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct in November.Aaron Jones' Yachats is one of two fillies entered in the Old Hat by trainer Todd Pletcher. A daughter of Forest Camp that has won both of her starts, Yachats won at Gulfstream Jan. 14 by 2 ¾ lengths going 6 ½ furlongs. Pletcher also sends out Runnin Cardinal Stable's Somethinaboutbetty.Old Hat Stakes (gr. III, Race 4, 2:16 p.m.), 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Swap Fliparoo (FL), 119, Javier Castellano
2. Somethinaboutbetty (MD), 119, Christopher DeCarlo
3. Smart N Pretty (KY), 115, Mark Guidry
4. Misty Rosette (KY), 115, Sebastian Madrid
5. Miraculous Miss (KY), 119, Ramon Dominguez
6. Yachats (KY), 115, John R. Velazquez
