HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Only one horse, Eclipse Award champion Ghostzapper, was good enough to defeat Roses in May in 2004. Both will return to race again this season, but anybody hankering for a rematch will have to be patient.
By the time Ghostzapper kicks off his 2005 campaign this spring, Roses in May could already have two races under his belt, the first of which will come Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $500,000 .
ARCADIA, Calif. - There were occasions last year when Rock Hard Ten appeared on the verge of breaking through to racing's highest level.
He was considered a threat to Smarty Jones in the Preakness, but finished a well-beaten second. After winning the Swaps Stakes in July, he was favored for the Haskell at Monmouth, but finished sixth.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Giacomo was a length away from playing the spoilers' role in the Hollywood Futurity last month.
He rallied from sixth to finish second behind Declan's Moon, who clinched the Eclipse Award as the nation's top 2-year-old of 2004 with the Hollywood Futurity victory.
While Declan's Moon will not start again until early March, Giacomo is back for Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by John Shirreffs for Jerry and Ann Moss, Giacomo is seeking his first stakes win in the Sham Stakes, run over 1 1/8 miles.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Alex Solis returns to riding after a six-month break on Saturday with two mounts at Santa Anita, including Imperialism in the $300,000 Strub Stakes.
Solis has not ridden since he suffered a broken vertebra in a spill at Del Mar in late July. He received doctor's clearance to resume exercising horses on Jan. 20 and has been a fixture at Santa Anita over the last two weeks.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - High Fly has won all three of his starts by a combined 21 1/4 lengths, including a nine-length romp in last month's Aventura Stakes. But now, in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, he faces the question eventually asked of all 3-year-olds with aspirations - can he handle two turns?
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Kela's impressive resume already includes a second behind Eclipse Award winner Speightstown in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and a victory over Eclipse runnerup Pico Central in the Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap. On Saturday, Kela brings his class act to Gulfstream Park, where he will be favored to defeat six rivals in the Grade 3, $100,000 Deputy Minister Handicap.
, who surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings last season, has been training steadily for his East Coast debut at Palm Meadows under the watchful eye of trainer Mike Mitchell.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - While it might not be square one, Proud Accolade is certainly taking a step back for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. After a pair of poor performances going two turns, Proud Accolade is back in a one-turn race, a scenario under which he won his first three starts.
On his best day, is among the best of his generation, as he proved in last year's Champagne Stakes. But subsequent flops in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Hollywood Futurity have left him a question mark as he embarks on his 3-year-old campaign.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The East Coast road to the Kentucky Oaks begins at Gulfstream Park on Saturday when Sis City, Dance Away Capote, and In the Gold match strides in the $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes. Seven 3-year-old fillies entered the Grade 2 fixture, which for the first time in its 18-year history will be decided at 1 1/8 miles, up from last year's 1 1/16.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Last year's Old Hat Stakes marked the coming-out party for Madcap Escapade, who went on to become a nationally prominent 3-year-old filly. Seeking to follow in her footsteps this year is the fleet Maddalena, who makes her stakes debut Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Old Hat following a pair of fast, well-spaced victories.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Galloping Grocer will need a new rider when he makes his 3-year-old debut in next Saturday's Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct.
John Velazquez, who rode the New York-bred gelding in all four of his starts at 2, will be at Fair Grounds on Feb. 12 to ride four horses for trainer Todd Pletcher, including the promising 3-year-old Harlington in the Risen Star Stakes.
Angel Cordero Jr., Velazquez's agent, said he had intended for Velazquez to ride Galloping Grocer here that day and was disappointed he couldn't keep the commitment.
