Since its first running in 1982, the El Camino Real Derby has often been a springboard to success.

From 1984 to 86, the Preakness winner competed in the El Camino. The 1984 Preakness winner, Gate Dancer, ran second to French Legionnaire in the El Camino in 1984, and 1985 Preakness winner Tank’s Prospect and 1986 winner Snow Chief each won the El Camino Real.

In 1994, El Camino winner Tabasco Cat won the Preakness and Belmont. In 1999, Charismatic was second in the El Camino before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ullapool, a horse formerly trained by Wesley Ward, and Sweet and Lowdown, a horse currently trained by Ward, will be among the major players in Thursday’s $53,500 allowance headliner at Gulfstream Park.

Thursday’s main event is scheduled to be run at five furlongs on the turf, although none of the nine 3-year-old fillies entered in the race have ever won on grass.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Superior Sarah, who has run well in both of her starts at the current meet, breaks from the outside post and heads a field of seven New York-bred fillies and mares in Thursday’s six-furlong, $54,000 optional claiming feature, which carries second-level allowance conditions.

Superior Sarah returned from a short layoff with a trainer change to Tom Albertrani and was not fully extended to win her first-level condition Dec. 11.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Now I Know, the winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess in December, has been retired after coming out of the $75,000 Martha Washington on Saturday with a fractured left knee, according to her trainer, Don Von Hemel.

Now I Know, 3, finished second in the Martha Washington, which was her first loss. She retires with a record of six wins from seven starts and earnings of $461,721. She won three stakes during her career, the Princess, the $50,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn on Jan. 14, and the Oklahoma Classics Lassie last fall at Remington Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Tony Dutrow said that he is “strongly considering” stretching Dearly Precious Stakes winner Singlet out to a mile in the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely Stakes on April 7.

The Dearly Precious was Singlet’s fourth win from five career starts, all at six furlongs or shorter. Singlet has the pedigree to suggest she’ll go further, and the Comely, a one-turn mile race over the main track, fits in nice timing-wise.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Chad Brown will be weighing options for a couple of 3-year-olds who won here last week.

Hardened Wildcat took a first-level allowance sprint Friday by three-quarters of a length, earning an 83 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

“I was proud of him the way he dug in,” Brown said from Florida. “It was the second time he was on the outside and trying to lay on horses. He was a little green, and it took a while on the right lead, but when he did, I thought he accelerated nicely.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It appears as if there will be plenty of depth in the New York-bred handicap division this year.

Stormy’s Majesty ended a 10-month drought – absent for most of it due to foot issues – with a front-running victory over favored Inherit the Gold in Sunday’s Mr. G.J.G. Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trainer Dale Romans said he remains a bit puzzled over Shackleford’s seventh-place finish as the tepid 3-1 favorite in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

“He came out of the race fine and I really don’t have any major excuses,” Romans said on Monday. “I thought he acted real well before the race. He really seems to be maturing. It could have been the track. He’s never run good in the mud before. He’ll bounce back. We’ll just train on a little bit and then figure out where to go next.”

Mission Impazible points to New Orleans

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Klesaris, who spent several years stabled on the New York circuit before moving to the Mid-Atlantic region, is plotting a return later this spring. For now, he is picking and choosing when to ship horses here from his base at Parx Racing.

Last week, he chose wisely, winning with both of his starters at Aqueduct – Mark It Man on Feb. 8 and Aba Dabbler on Friday. On Wednesday, Klesaris is back with two more runners at Aqueduct, and horseplayers chasing the $36,518 pick-six carryover will have to strongly consider using both.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Barring any complications, Royal Delta will make her much anticipated 2012 debut in the Grade 3 Sabin here at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 25.

Trainer Bill Mott confirmed that’s the race he has picked out for Royal Delta’s first start since her easy victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and to use as a prep prior to her current goal, the $10 million Dubai World Classic, on March 31. The Sabin is carded at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.