OZONE PARK, N.Y. - For many winters, owner Roddy Valente and trainer Bruce Levine enjoyed great success claiming horses from Southern California and bringing them east for Aqueduct's winter meet.

But a rule change in California that states horses can't leave California for 60 days after a meet from which they have been claimed has virtually taken that angle away from Valente and Levine. On Monday, however, Levine and Valente will send out Band of Thunder right off the plane from California in a third-level allowance race at Aqueduct.

PHOENIX - Peace Chant found his old class and got a dream pace setup as he closed furiously to capture Turf Paradise's marquee event, the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup on Saturday.

Owned and trained by Doug O'Neill, who claimed the 6-year-old son of War Chant for $62,500 at Santa Anita on Jan. 17, Peace Chant ($30.60) bided his time toward the back of the pack off sharp splits, steadily advanced to the top of the lane, and then blasted past his rivals to win going away by two lengths under Alonso Quinonez.

French Kiss became a stakes winner on Valentine's Day, when she closed from last to first for a neck win the $50,000 Pippin to thrill an Oaklawn Park crowd of 21,604.

Day of Victory held second, a neck in front of third-place finisher Color Me Up.

Polytrack specialist Smart Surprise proved equally adept at handling a sloppy main track at Fair Grounds.

Winless in nine previous starts on dirt, including three wet tracks, but 3 for 4 on the synthetic main track at Woodbine, Smart Surprise ($6.80) returned from a 2 1/2-month layoff to romp to a 6 1/4-length win in the $60,000 Chou Croute Handicap.

Timeless Fashion was prominent from the start before pulling away to a clear-cut victory in the $50,000 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park.

Ridden by Hector Rosario Jr., Timeless Fashion ($7.80), a a 5-year-old gelding by Sky Classic, finished one mile in 1:38.13 over Polytrack to win his first stakes.

Heavily favored El Gato Malo survived a stern stretch challenge from Cover Magic to win the $54,500 McCann's Mojave at Golden Gate Fields.

El Gato Malo sat behind stablemate Ghetto, who opened a big lead early. He moved up and put a head in front at the half-mile pole as he, Ghetto, and Cover Magic were bunched together going around the turn.

Cover Magic seemed to put his head in front in the stretch, but El Gato Malo dug in and was inching clear at the end, winning by a half-length in 1:44.35. He paid $2.80.

Angled off the rail out of the second turn, Ballymore Lady responded to strong handling by jockey Jose Lezcano and prevailed in a four-horse photo with Elusive Lady, Sousaphone, and Audacious Chloe for a hard-earned neck victory in the Grade 3, $125,000 Endeavour Stakes on Saturday's Sam Davis undercard at Tampa Bay Downs.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - How's Your Halo, who was claimed for $40,000 by owner-trainer Brian Prichard at Gulfstream Park three years ago, wore down the pacesetting Ikigai to register a shocking half-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Richter Scale Sprint. How's Your Halo paid $96.20.

Tale of Ekati, a two-time Grade 1 winner at 3, finished a nonthreatening fourth as the even-money favorite in his 2009 debut.

General Quarters, a former claimer, now finds himself on the list of potential Kentucky Derby prospects after registering a convincing 3 1/2-length victory over fellow longshot Sumo in Saturday's Grade 3, $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

General Quarters was claimed for $20,000 by owner Thomas McCarthy out of his career debut last May at Churchill Downs. McCarthy trained the horse in Kentucky before sending him to Mark Miller this winter at Tampa Bay Downs. General Quarters finished second behind Musket Man in the Pasco Stakes in his 3-year-old debut.

Royale Michele took advantage of a great trip and some misfortune for the odds-on favorite Seventh Street to record a 1 3/4-length upset victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.

The speedy Seventh Street, the 4-5 favorite, leapt in the air at the start and was four lengths last out of the gate. Meanwhile, Royale Michele, under Geovany Garcia, settled into fifth position down the backside while By the Light set the pace stalked by Access Fee.