Kelly's Landing tries to relive past

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Two years ago, Kelly's Landing used a victory in Gulfstream Park's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap as a stepping-stone to his career-defining triumph in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. On Saturday, Kelly's Landing will return in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector hoping to relive past glories and prove that, at the age of 8, he can still hold his own against younger rivals in top-quality sprint races.

Kelly's Landing, a son of Patton, has started just five times since outfinishing Friendly Island to win the Golden Shaheen in March 2007. His lone victory during that period came last fall when he wired allowance competition over the Polytrack at Keeneland.

"He might not be as consistent as he used to be, but he was just off the track record that day at Keeneland, so there's no reason not to believe he can't still jump up and run a big race now and then," trainer Eddie Kenneally said. "This is obviously a tough spot with a Grade 1 winner like Black Seventeen in the lineup, but it's a small field, which is a good thing, and my horse really loves the track down here."

Kelly's Landing has won 3 of his 6 starts at Gulfstream, including the 2007 Mr. Prospector.

Kelly's Landing will share high weight of 122 pounds with the well-traveled Black Seventeen, who won the Grade 1 Vosburgh in late September after outgaming the pacesetting Fabulous Strike over a wet track. Black Seventeen has disappointed, however, in two subsequent starts, including the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Those last two subpar outings both came over the synthetic surface at Santa Anita.

"We weren't going to ship, but he's doing so well," trainer Brian Koriner said. "He hasn't run well at Santa Anita, so you just have to hope it's the track."

The Mr. Prospector is loaded with speed. The lineup also includes fleet stakes winners Rollers and Ikigai, both of whom are most effective when on or close to the lead.

A fast pace could play into the hands of He's So Chic or How's Your Halo. He's So Chic comes off the best race of his career, a late-running second behind Fabulous Strike in the Fall Highweight on Nov. 27. How's Your Halo rallied to be second behind Benny the Bull in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint last summer at Calder.