HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park may look more like a construction site than a racetrack when its 2006 meeting opens Wednesday. But the inconvenience created by a grandstand that will be only partially completed on opening day should have little effect on a racing program that figures to be stronger and classier this winter than it has been in many years.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For the second straight winter, opening day at Gulfstream Park will be shrouded in uncertainty and a refuge for only curiosity-seekers and the most die-hard racing fans. But unlike last year, when patrons were herded together in temporary quarters throughout the entire meet, the 2006 season will get better with every passing day as Gulfstream Park's new state-of-the-art grandstand nears completion, ushering in a new era for south Florida racing.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The top south Florida-based candidate for the 132nd Kentucky Derby is First Samurai, but what does that really mean? In recent winters, horses such as Greenwood Lake, A P Valentine, Repent, Sky Mesa, Eurosilver, and Proud Accolade have shipped into Florida with similarly lofty reputations, and all came up far short on the first Saturday in May.

As a group, however, Derby hopefuls in south Florida perennially and deservedly evoke great hope, and as the 2006 Gulfstream Park meet kicks off Wednesday, this year is no exception.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Steve Asmussen raced part of his large stable at Gulfstream Park in 2003 and 2004, but not last year. And he didn't plan on doing so this year, until Hurricane Katrina wreaked its havoc and destruction on New Orleans on Aug. 29.

"We're back in Florida only because Fair Grounds is closed," said Asmussen, who has about 34 horses at the nearby Palm Meadows training center. "The horses we brought, they're some of our best, so we can't have afford to have their training disrupted by the track freezing or having to wait until 10 or 11 in the morning to train."

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When Magna Graduate was sold privately by Burr Travis for a high six-figure sum last spring, the deal ended up a win-win situation for all involved. Travis and his trainer, Garry Simms, both did well financially, and so did the colt's new owner, Elisabeth Alexander, since Magna Graduate became a standout 3-year-old by year's end.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Silvestris, the beaten favorite when second behind Oprah Winney in the Randaroo Stakes on Dec. 14, turned the tables Monday by recording a 1 1/4-length victory in the $65,430 at Aqueduct.

Livermore Valley, third in the Randaroo, rallied to be second, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Jet Set Broad. Oprah Winney, the 6-5 favorite coming off her Randaroo victory, faded to last in the field of four.

Bolstered by large fields racing over its Polytrack surface, Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., reported significant increases in handle for its Holiday meet that ended Saturday.

Many of the racehorses quarantined in a Turfway Park barn that has shown evidence of the equine herpes virus were scheduled to resume training Tuesday during segregated training hours, Turfway Park president Bob Elliston said.

All but five horses that are still exhibiting the virus in blood and nasal swab tests will be permitted to resume training, track and state officials said. Additionally, another barn - one stabling seven ponies used by outriders - has been quarantined after one of the ponies there tested positive for the virus, Elliston said.

Comacina, under Pablo Fragoso, assumed command soon after the start, turned back pace-prompter Welcome Home after a half-mile, and held off a hard-charging Fast Laner to win the $70,955 at Aqueduct by a half-length.

Bank Audit, the even-money favorite and winner of this race in 2005, finished a non-threatening fourth. Bank Audit's loss was the first of the day for jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr., who began the new year by winning the first four races on Sunday's card.

Great Seneca ($4) remained undefeated in three starts with a 5 3/4-length victory in the $75,000 Dancing Count Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Laurel Park.

Ridden for the first time by Horacio Karamanos, Great Seneca covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.25.

Trainer Gary Capuano, who had considered running Great Seneca in last Saturday's Maryland Juvenile Championship at one mile, said he sees no good reason to tinker with a successful formula.