(Friday, February 5) While much of the east coast will be shoveling snow on Saturday thanks to what The Weather Channel is calling “The Winter Powerhouse,” there will be enough racing in warmer climates to keep us busy.

While racing at Aqueduct could be affected, there is a good card on tap at Gulfstream Park including the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1).

It is one of three graded stakes on the card, which also includes the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) and the $125,000 Suwannee River (G3), both on turf.

The Donn features Quality Road, who appears to be back on track after his debacle at the Breeders’ Cup.

The colt acted up at the gate before the Classic, unwilling to go in the gate, delaying the start of the race by several minutes. The colt was eventually scratched.

When he has his mind on running, he can be very good. He made his four year old debut in the Hal’s Hope (G3) on Jan. 3 and was much the best, drawing clear to win by 2 ¾ lengths with something left in reserve.

The colt has shown serious talent since his debut, where he earned a 101 Beyer breaking his maiden at Aqueduct for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

Jerkens shipped him to Florida to head down the Triple Crown Trail, and after a second against Alw-1 foes, he won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) to become the early Kentucky Derby favorite.

Foot problems knocked him out of the Derby, and owner Edward Evans transferred the colt to trainer Todd Pletcher.

After winning the Amsterdam (G2), the colt ran third in the Travers (G1) and second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), both races won by Summer Bird.

The colt can stamp himself as the leader of the handicap division in the Donn, but has to take on nine rivals while giving weight.

Santa Anita has five stakes on their Saturday card, three graded.

The $250,000 Las Virgenes marks the three-year-old debut of the talented Blind Luck, who capped off her two-year-old campaign by winning the Hollywood Starlet (G1).

The filly won four of six starts last year and was a close up third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) where she was beaten just ¾ of a length for the top spot.

She takes on five foes, led by Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies winner La Nez, and Santa Ysable (G3) winner Crisp.

Looking for your Derby horse? You might find one in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G2), which drew a field of seven three year olds.

Trainer Bob Baffert is locked and loaded with promising three year olds this year, and sends out Stuka Stakes winner Tiz Chrome, who is perfect in his two career outings.

Former Baffert assistant Eoin Harty will saddle Hollywood Prevue (G3) winner American Lion.

Brian Mulligan will be providing his full card report for the entire Santa Anita card.

Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for today’s featured race of the day:

Gulfstream Park Race 10 Donn Handicap (G1) Post time 5:31 ET

#6 Past the Point 10/1
#4 Quality Road 7/5
#10 Delightful Kiss 8/1
#8 Mambo Meister 6/1

#6 Past the Point prepped for today’s race with a good second behind a tough sprinter in Custom for Carlos in the Mr. Prospector (G3). The six year old set the early fractions, was taken on by the eventual winner on the turn and they battled into the stretch, ¾ of a length separating the duo at the wire. The McLaughlin trainee has done some of his best running at nine furlongs, earning a career top in the ’08 Woodward where he was able to set the early fractions before getting caught by two time Horse of the Year Curlin in the stretch. His best shot of beating the chalk here is if jockey Edgar Prado can shake loose early and set moderate early fractions. I’m willing to give that a shot if we catch most of his 10/1 morning line. He is getting nine pounds from the favorite.

#4 Quality Road has had a tough luck career. A foot problem knocked him out of last year’s Kentucky Derby just two weeks out, and he likely would have been the favorite. He looked like he had a shot in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, but acted up at the gate and eventually was scratched. The colt returned with a sharp win in the Hal’s Hope (G3) last month, his third win in four starts over the Gulfstream Park main track. He took the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) here last year. It is tough to knock a guy that has earned triple digit Beyers in seven of his eight career starts and has run so well over the surface, but the 7/5 morning line is likely going to look more like 3/5 by the time they load them in the gate.

#10 Delightful Kiss made a mild late rally to finish third last out against Alw-3 optional claimers, which should serve as a good tune-up for today. This gelding won the Hal’s Hope (G3) over the main track here last year after a good second behind multiple Grade 1 winner Einstein in the Clark Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs. He figures to move forward in his second start off nearly a year on the bench.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 5/1 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 4,6,8,10
TRI: 4,6 / 4,6,8,10 / 3,4,6,8,10