Bulls and Bears starts year in dash

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After Bulls and Bears began his career with a victory over Discreetly Mine and then finished fifth as arguably the best horse in the Grade 2 Sanford last year, trainer Rick Violette would have had reason to envision the 3-year-old participating in a more lucrative and significant race this particular weekend at Gulfstream Park than Friday's $48,000 allowance feature.

Instead, Violette is pretty much back to square one with his talented but unlucky colt who finally makes his 3-year-old debut against six rivals in the six-furlong entry-level allowance dash.

Bulls and Bears defeated Discreetly Mine, the likely favorite in next Saturday's Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, by a neck in his debut. He was beaten just more than a length following a horrendous trip four weeks later in the Sanford at Saratoga, and has not started since.

"He got sick on me last summer and then the bottom fell out," explained Violette, who trains Bulls and Bears for the LRK Stable.

Bulls and Bears has worked forwardly for his return and comes into Friday's main event off a pair of bullet half-mile drills at Palm Meadows.

"He's training extremely well, and we just need to get his career started again," Violette said. "Six furlongs is probably not his best distance, but there is a lot of speed in the race, so maybe he can run them down."

Among the speed horses in the field are Havanadaydream, V Sat, Bellissima Luna, and Nathan's H Q.

Havanadaydream withstood an early pace duel before edging away to a 1 1/2-length victory in his career debut here Jan. 27. He returned to finish third after once again battling for the lead. He edged clear at midstretch of the seven-furlong allowance dash, which was won by Soaring Empire, who is scheduled to compete Saturday in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

V Sat led throughout and posted a 92 Beyer Speed Figure winning his maiden over a wet track last fall at Belmont. He has not started since finishing a tiring seventh at Tampa on Dec. 12.

Bellissima Luna has had the Gulfstream Park clockers rechecking their watches after posting a pair of 45-and-change half-mile works in preparation for his 3-year-old bow.

Nathan's H Q won his only start at 2 at Delaware Park and also has been working well over the local strip for his jockey-trainer, Clyde Martin.