It's Donn Time!

Here we go! In what could be the deepest Donn in quite a while with 2 TC race winners, an undefeated horse, a horse with upside and a horse who has shown the talent before but hasn't put it quite together. Here is this year's field!

10th Race - Gulfstream Park - Saturday, February 11th, 2012
STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $500,000. Donn H. (Grade 1). FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. By subscription of $500 each by Saturday, January 28, 2012 , which shall accompany the nomination, $2,500 to pass the entry box and $2,500 additional to start. Supplementary nomination by Noon Friday February 3, at a fee of$25,000 which includes entry and starting fee. $500,000 Guaranteed. All fees shall be paid prior to the start of the race. Monies to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% to sixth. Weights: Saturday, February 4, 2012. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. This race will be limited to 14 Starters, with Also Eligibles. High Weights Preferred with second preference to horses with the highest lifetime earnings. Trophy to the winning owner. Nominations Closed Saturday, January 28, 2012 with 14 Nominations. (04:45 PM) (11)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Where's Sterling 5 H L 115 Lezcano Jose Canani Nick
2 Mission Impazible 5 H L 117 Castellano Javier Pletcher Todd A.
3 Ruler On Ice 4 G L 119 Napravnik Rosie Breen Kelly J.
4 Redeemed 4 C L 118 Prado Edgar S. Dutrow, Jr. Richard E.
5 Soaring Empire 5 H L 116 Leparoux Julien R. Gambolati Cam M.
6 Al Khali 6 R L 115 Garcia Alan Mott William I.
7 Flat Out 6 H L 121 Solis Alex O. Dickey Charles L.
8 Trickmeister 5 H L 117 Dominguez Ramon A. Dutrow, Jr. Richard E.
9 Shackleford 4 C L 119 Castanon Jesus Lopez Romans Dale L.
10 Hymn Book 6 G L 116 Velazquez John R. McGaughey III Claude R.
11 Sangaree 7 H L 115 Maragh Rajiv McLaughlin Kiaran P.

Since he's been in stakes company, Redeemed has been either 1st or 2nd. He won the Discovery in his final start as a three year old. Mission Impazible is certainly a horse who can win a G1, but he hasn't had things go his way. The good news is he's done well over the Gulfstream surface. With the possible chance of rain, it would be stupid of me to overlook Ruler On Ice. He hasn't won on a dry surface, but is 2 for 2 over wet. Of course he gets his stablemate's jockey which will help him. Another horse who should love the slop is Trickmiester who is the undefeated horse here. This is really a make or break race for Flat Out whose last three races have been very lackluster. Shackleford gave Dialed In all he can handle in last year's FL Derby and hopefully runs well in his first race as a four year old. Al Khali is prob. going to grass race (which I previewed on Turf Talk), Sangaree has a chance, as does Soaring Empire. The other two horses are unknowns to me I'm afraid.

My pick is: Shackleford. If he can control the front, I don't think there will be anyone who can pass him. Ruler On Ice for second and Flat Out for third.

More importantly, I hope all the horses come back safe and sound!