Speedy Leon Follows Path of Hal's Hope; Saarland Works

Edited release from Gulfstream Park
Two years ago, Harold Rose won the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) with Rose Family Stable Ltd.'s Hal's Hope and then parlayed that tally with a winning effort in the Florida Derby (gr. I) less than two months later.

Rose is following the same path with the family's Speedy Leon, who worked a half-mile at Calder Race Course in :47 1/5 handily Monday morning in preparation for Saturday's Holy Bull.

"It was a good work for him," said the owner-trainer-breeder, "and we are planning on running him in the Holy Bull. I don't want to do any better than I did two years ago in the Holy Bull."

The Holy Bull, for 3-year-olds at a 1 1/16 miles, is the second leg of Gulfstream Park's sophomore series that culminates with the Florida on March 16.

Rose also raced Sir Leon, the sire of Speedy Leon. "I took Sir Leon out of a sale and won a lot of races with him," said Rose. "I've also bred a lot of horses to Sir Leon and done well with them. This colt looks like he's going to be another good one."

In other 3-year-old news from Gulfstream, Shug McGaughey- trained Saarland, winner of the Remsen Stakes last year, breezed a half-mile in 49 2/5 as he continues to progress toward the $200,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 16.