Dan Illman

Nice to see some solid stakes-quality performers successfully return from injury-induced layoffs.  *TRICKMEISTER, plagued by cannon bone and tibia issues, emerged from a 15-month layoff to whip five foes in the Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream.  Trickmeister has never been headed in five lifetime starts and seems on his way to the Grade 1 Donn Handicap for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. 

Thursday's HandiGambling 261 exercise is the ninth race at Gulfstream Park, a $62,500 optional claimer with a 'n2x' condition at one mile on the main track. Remember that you have a mythical $100 with which to wager on the race, and the entrant with the highest money total will receive a "Monthly Enhanced 60-Card Past Performance Plan." Anyone going over the $100 limit will be disqualified. Please post your plays and analysis to the blog.

COMMA TO THE TOP finished nineteenth and last in this year's Kentucky Derby, but he got back on the beam on December 11 at Hollywood Park.  Trained by Peter Miller, the 2009 CashCall Futurity (G1) winner was making his second start since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove a chip from his left front ankle.  Racing in a conditioned allowance race at seven furlongs over the cushion track, Comma to the Top duked it out with race favorite INDIAN FIREWATER before drawing clear despite drifting out during the stretch run.  He received a career-best Beyer of 101.

Thursday's HandiGambling 261 exercise is the eighth race at Hollywood Park, a $25,000 claimer for juvenile fillies at six furlongs. Remember that you have a mythical $100 with which to wager on the race, and the entrant with the highest money total will receive a "Monthly Enhanced 60-Card Past Performance Plan." Anyone going over the $100 limit will be disqualified. Please post your plays and analysis to the blog.

*Todd Pletcher unveiled a promising juvenile at Gulfstream last Saturday.  DISCREET DANCER, a son of first-crop sire Discreet Cat and a half-brother to Grade 2 Swale Stakes winner Travelin Man, broke the track record for 5 1/2 furlongs with a romping victory.  Discreet Dancer earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure and he is one of only four juveniles in 2011 to reach the triple-digit Beyer plateau (Pletcher trains three of them).  Discreet Dancer probably didn't beat much in the weak maiden, however, and his pedigree is geared to speed.  He may be more of a sprinter or mile