Dan Illman

Let's take a quick peek at some of the weekend's major stakes races: KITTEN'S JOY STAKES - RACE 10 - GULFSTREAM PARK:

Friday's HandiGambling 267 exercise is the eighth race at Santa Anita, a $32,000 maiden claimer for 3-year-olds at one mile.

Despite rumors to the contrary, my recent absence had nothing to do over my personal outrage that Stephanie's Kitten received a lone vote for champion juvenile filly, denying My Miss Aurelia a deserving unanimous Eclipse.  I'm not ready for the rubber room just yet, not just yet, but I would love to hear an explanation for that one. 

Sheikh Mohammed stole the show last weekend with a trifecta of 3-year-old winners (Alpha, Out of Bounds, Captivating Lass), but some other intriguing sophomores emerged as well.

Let's take a look at the Busanda from Aqueduct and the Marshua's River from Gulfstream. BUSANDA STAKES - RACE 7 - AQUEDUCT: