(Tuesday, February 9) While Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra have garnered all the ink for the last six months, the once moribund handicap division may be back and ready to grab a few headlines of their own after outstanding performances this past weekend by Quality Road and Richard’s Kid.

Quality Road set a track record winning the Donn at Gulfstream Park, stopping the "not always correct" timer in 1:47.49 for the nine furlongs over the main track, breaking the previous record of 1:47.72, which the colt set last year in his Florida Derby (G1) victory.

A day later Richard’s Kid was an impressive winner in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita.

The Todd Pletcher trained Quality Road has now won four of five starts over the Gulfstream Park main track, and the four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer appears to have the often troubled colt at or near the top of his game.

The colt earned a 121 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort in the Donn, the highest number since Midnight Lute earned a 124 in the 2007 Forego and the highest in a race longer than a mile since the Whitney Handicap in 2005, where Commentator and Saint Liam each earned a 123.

Last year, while under the care of Jimmy Jerkens, the colt won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1), and it appeared the colt would start as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby until foot problems knocked him off the Triple Crown Trail.

Pletcher took over as trainer, and the colt won the Amsterdam (G2) going 6 ½ furlongs in his first start off a four month layoff.

After finishing third in the Travers (G1) and second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), it appeared the colt had a legitimate shot of winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

However, the colt acted up at the gate, and after a lengthy delay was scratched from the race.

The colt was given three months off, returning to win the Hal’s Hope (G3) in his prep for the Donn.

The four year old has now won six of nine career starts, and if his feet and mind stay sound, he looks like he could lead the handicap division throughout the year and be a major threat to take some luster off the two super females.

Pletcher indicated the colt would get some time off, and likely would be pointed toward the Met Mile (G1) at Belmont Park in May.

If things go well, perhaps we will see Quality Road take on the gals at Saratoga this summer.

It certainly would be a dream match up to see the trio square off.

Here is a look at the last five Beyer Speed Figures for Quality Road, Zenyatta, and Rachel Alexandra:

Richard's Kid showed on Sunday that he would be a player in the handicap division with his win in the San Antonio.

The five year old trailed the early field behind a dawdling early pace, was steered down to the inside by jockey Garrett Gomez, and rallied right up the rail to get up late in a good looking effort, stopping the timer in 1:49.05 for the nine furlongs over the Pro Ride surface.

"I stayed down inside with him because there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it," Gomez said. "Nobody was really stopping today, so the only way we were going to overcome that was to save ground. He’s got a great kick."

As a four year old he won three of seven starts including the Pacific Classic (G1), ending his year with a sixth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, beaten 5 ½ lengths for the top spot.

The five year old was making his first start since being purchased privately by Zabeel Racing, the stable of Dubai resident Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammad al Maktoum.

His next start likely will come in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at the new Meyden Race Course, which has the synthetic surface Tapeta installed.

The Bob Baffert trainee does have a stakes win on conventional dirt, winning the ungraded John Campbell Handicap at Laurel Park last February.

With Summer Bird, Rail Trip, and Gio Ponti also returning to run again this year, things could stay very interesting after the Triple Crown races are in the books.