Horse racing

Donn’s headliners: Triple Crown stars

Shackleford and Ruler on Ice head a deep Field in the $500,000 Donn Handicap.

Hymn Book captures Donn Handicap

Hymn Book, making his 2012 debut, outfought Mission Impazible down the stretch to win Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The six-year-old gelding covered the 1 1/8- miles in 1:49.16 on a track listed as good.

Thunder Moccasin strikes in Hutcheson Stakes

Odds-on favorite Thunder Moccasin had a successful three-year-old debut Saturday in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The colt covered the seven-furlongs in 1:24.16 on a track listed as good.

Breen prepares Pants On Fire for return

Saturday marks a big day for trainer Kelly Breen with the return of his 2011 Belmont Stakes champion Ruler On Ice. The four-year-old gelding is one of the favorites for the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Mutuel field favored in Kentucky Derby Future Wager

The mutuel field, undefeated Algorithms and Union Rags are listed as the three favorites for the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager for the 2012 Run for the Roses.

Whiting seeks another Run for the Roses

Not one day of racing has been missed at Oaklawn Park in 2012 allowing the track to increase daily purses. The track announced Wednesday that overnight purses are going up $5,000 a day starting this week.

Ruler On Ice and Shackleford meet in Donn Handicap

Triple Crown race winners Ruler On Ice and Shackleford head a field of 11 older thoroughbreds for Saturday's 1 1/8- mile Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The two four-year-olds will each be making their 2012 debuts.

Wildcat Creek comes in for Hutcheson Stakes

A field of six three-year-olds have been entered for Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong contest is an early prep for next month's $1 million Florida Derby.

Game On Dude and Ultimate Eagle likely for Big 'Cap

This past weekend's stakes races at Santa Anita Park for older thoroughbreds gave early incite into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic set for November at the southern California facility. However, next month's Santa Anita Handicap could prove an even better indicator.

I'll Have Another - The Overlay of the Century

How many times does a gambler like a horse and wish the odds could have been much higher than they were? It does not happen that often but when the unforeseen takes place, it's best to take the money and ask questions later.

Upcoming schedule for Saturday's winners in flux

This past Saturday had a trio of major stakes races for three-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail. Where the winners of the races will start next is not firmly decided.

Gulfstream Park

Musical Flair plays winning note in Needles

Musical Flair, rebounding from throat surgery, rallied down the stretch to win the Needles Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Horse racing

Young horses to showcase speed at Gulfstream

The feature race is the $60,000 Needles Stakes at five furlongs on turf for 3-year-olds. Musical Flair is the likely favorite in a seven-horse field.

Alpha rolls to victory in Withers

Odds-on favorite Alpha cruised to victory on Saturday in the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The race, which was not run last year, is a prep event for Aqueduct's $1 million Wood Memorial on April 7.

Battle Hardened gains victory at Tampa Bay

Lightly raced Battle Hardened came from off the pace to capture Saturday's $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1/16-mile race is the final local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby on March 10.

I'll Have Another surprises to win Robert B. Lewis Stakes

I'll Have Another, the longest shot in the field, pulled an upset in Saturday's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is a stepping stone to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes features Hall of Fame trainers

Three of the eight three-year-olds entered in Saturday's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park are trained by a pair of Hall of Fame conditioners with Kentucky Derby aspirations. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is a stepping stone to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Alpha looms large in Withers

Local stakes winner Alpha has been made the even-money favorite in a field of seven for Saturday's $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. After a year's absence the Withers returns as a prep event for three-year-olds on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Three-year-olds take spotlight at Tampa Bay

Trainer Todd Pletcher has been dominating the Sam F. Davis Stakes in recent years and has another opportunity to win the event with its 32nd renewal on Saturday. The $250,000 stakes, with a field of 11 three-year-olds, will be conducted over a distance of 1 1/16-miles.