Proctor's Ledge drops in class for Sand Springs in bid to end skid

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Brendan Walsh will be on the other side of the world Saturday, with his top 3-year-old Plus Que Parfait running in the $2 million UAE Derby in Dubai. At some point after midnight local time, he will fire up his computer to watch Proctor’s Ledge make her 5-year-old debut in the $100,000 Sand Springs Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The Sand Springs is one of three listed stakes on the 14-race Florida Derby card, which also has four graded events.

By running in the Sand Springs, Proctor’s Ledge returns to the course where she recorded her first two victories – a maiden score at 48-1 and an allowance victory at 3-1 – in the winter of 2017. Since then, Proctor’s Ledge has competed in 13 consecutive graded stakes, winning three. She dropped her last four races last year and has not run since a fifth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine on Oct. 13.

Walsh said that owner Patricia Moseley enjoys watching Proctor’s Ledge run, which is why she brought her back this year. Proctor’s Ledge has had eight breezes at Palm Meadows and has Walsh believing this could be the daughter of Ghostzapper’s best year yet.

“She’s been working probably as good as she’s ever worked,” Walsh said by phone Thursday from Dubai. “We’ll see if she can transfer that to the racetrack. She seems like she runs well off the layoff. It’s a good spot to start her back and see where we’re at.”

John Velazquez has the call from post 9.

Valedictorian, trained by Kelly Breen, has been ultra-consistent since last August. She won the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes here and was beaten a half-length by Precieuse in the Grade 3 Honey Fox last out.

Mrs. Ramona G. and the Tropical Park Oaks upset winner Too Charming look like other contenders in this spot.

A Bit Special in Sanibel Island

With an eye toward more lucrative spots this summer, trainer Patrick Biancone gave A Bit Special a little freshening following her 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant Stakes here on Feb. 3.

A Bit Special returns as the horse to beat in Saturday’s $125,000 Sanibel Island Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going a mile on turf. A Bit Special has won four of five starts, with her lone loss being a troubled second in the Sharp Susan Stakes here last September. In the Sweetest Chant, A Bit Special showed a different dimension as the typically late-running filly stayed closer to the pace and still won handily.

“Last time, the track was playing to speed; we were a bit more forward,” Biancone said. “She’s developing, learning every time, every race.”

Biancone said he hopes to get A Bit Special to New York this summer. The New York Racing Association has a trio of turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, each worth $750,000.

Belle Laura, third in the Herecomesthebride on March 2, and the good-looking maiden winner Positive Skew look to be the main challengers to A Bit Special. Vow to Recover was third to A Bit Special in the Wait a While last Dec. 8 and came back to run fifth in the Herecomesthebride Stakes.

Cox entrant dangerous

Brad Cox doesn’t often run horses at Gulfstream Park, but when he does, it’s worth paying attention.

Cox is 4 for 8 in his career at Gulfstream, those four wins having come with his last five starters, including going 2 for 2 at this meet with Big Changes (Sunshine Millions Turf) and Play On (Melody of Colors).

Cox has shipped in Marquee Prince for Saturday’s $125,000 Cutler Bay Stakes for 3-year-olds on the grass. Marquee Prince is 2 for 3 on turf and has won his last two starts, including the off-the-turf Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Two starts back, Marquee Prince won a listed stakes going a mile at Fair Grounds. Last fall at Churchill Downs, Marquee Prince won an allowance race going a mile on turf by 12 1/4 lengths.

Javier Castellano has the mount from post 3.

Trainer Bill Mott and Juddmonte Farms, who have Hidden Scroll in the Florida Derby, send out Seismic Wave in the Cutler Bay. After two narrow defeats on turf in New York last fall, Seismic Wave broke through with a half-length maiden score going 1 1/8 miles here on Feb. 16.

Forever Mo, a two-time winner on Gulfstream’s turf course, Art G Is Back, and Candy Crushem are all in with a chance.