Kelly's Landing resumes working following illness

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - On this weekend a year ago, Kelly's Landing and his connections were in the winner's circle at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai following his thrilling victory in the $2 million Golden Shaheen.

Kelly's Landing could be found this weekend, as he has been all winter, at the Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach, Fla., where he worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds on Friday. It was his first work since returning to serious training after taking time off to recuperate from a lung infection. Prior to getting sick, Kelly's Landing was pointing to a defense of his title in Gulfstream Park's Mr. Prospector Handicap on Jan. 5.

"But we missed some training time with him because of the lung issue so that just didn't pan out," said trainer Eddie Kenneally. "Right now, we're just taking things one step at a time. We have nothing picked out for him at the moment."

Kelly's Landing finished a distant fifth over the sloppy track at Monmouth Park in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in his only start since winning the Golden Shaheen.

Matz mulls Visionaire's options

Visionaire turned in his final south Florida work at Palm Meadows on Friday, breezing a half-mile in 49.60 seconds under the watchful eye of trainer Michael Matz. Visionaire is scheduled to ship to Keeneland on Sunday.

"He just kind of did a nice two-minute lick from the wire, then worked a nice, easy half-mile," said Matz. "He went real well."

Matz has narrowed his choices to the Illinois Derby on April 5 or the Blue Grass the following Saturday for Visionaire's final prep before the Kentucky Derby.

"Right now it's still up in the air," said Matz. "Although I'm leaning towards the Blue Grass because it would mean less shipping."

Modest horses running extremely fast

The racetrack has sped up over the past several days. Cases in point: the performances of That's Grand and Americanrevolution.

That's Grand, who finished last in his only previous start, cruised to an easy victory over $40,000 maiden claiming rivals on Thursday. His final time of 1:03.03 equaled the 5 1/2-furlong course record set by Shane Jules two years ago. That's Grand, who was ridden to victory by Eddie Castro for trainer Marty Wolfson, was claimed out of the race by trainer John Shaw.

Americanrevolution was equally dominant winning Friday's first race, a $20,000 starter allowance. Americanrevolution, who was returning to dirt following several disappointing efforts over the synthetic surfaces at Santa Anita and Hollywood, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.55 while winning with speed to spare under John Velazquez. His final time was just .11 of a second off the track standard set by Forest Danger in February 2005.

Napravnik plans three-day visit

Trainer Barclay Tagg said he's planning to run both his nominees, Dave and Fracas, in next Saturday's $150,000 Pan American Handicap. And if Dave goes as scheduled, Tagg plans to bring Maryland's leading jockey, Rosie Napravnik, back to south Florida to ride the Grade 2 winner in the 1 1/2-mile turf stakes.

Napravnik won with her only previous local mount, Live by Request, for trainer Peter Walder on St. Patrick's Day. Her agent, Bob Klesaris, said Napravnik will spend the weekend here, riding on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday cards.

Dave and Fracas are two of 15 horses nominated for the Grade 3 Pan American. Other leading contenders include True Cause, who was narrowly beaten by Stream of Gold in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Handicap on March 16, and Buffalo Man and Elusive Fort, the first and second finishers in the Grade 3 Appleton Handicap earlier in the meet.