Gulfstream Park opens stable area

Gulfstream Park opened its stable area Tuesday, taking in the first horses who will race at the 2011 meeting which begins Jan. 5.

Horses trained by Wesley Ward and Tim Hills were the first to arrive on the grounds. The Palm Meadows barn area located approximately 45 miles north of the track in Boynton Beach opened last week.

As many as seven of the 14 Breeders’ Cup winners are expected to be stabled either at Gulfstream, Palm Meadows, or Payson Park this winter, including likely Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies champions Uncle Mo and Awesome Feather, both of whom are expected to arrive at Palm Meadows later this week.

Gulfstream’s 79-day meet will featured 32 graded stakes, topped by the $1 million Florida Derby on April 3.