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50th Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on February 2
The 50th running of the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles, Florida’s most prestigious test for older horses on the maintrack, is the centerpiece of Gulfstream Park’s 10-race program on Saturday, February 2. It will also include the $150,000 Swale Stakes (gr. II) , one of the 2008 Kentucky Derby prep races for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs.
The complete field of talented older horses racing in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Sunday with jockeys, weight and odds:
Wood Be Willing ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano carries 115 pounds with odds of 20-1
Spring At Last ridden by jockey Eibar Coa, 119 lbs., 6-1
Dr Googles Boogles ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, 115 lbs., 20-1
Daaher ridden by jockey Michael Luzzi, 120 lbs., 5-2
A. P. Arrow ridden by jockey Ramon Dominguez, 119 lbs., 4-1
Fairbanks ridden by jockey John Velazquez, 116 lbs., 5-1
Kiss the Kid ridden by jockey Eddie Castro, 115 lbs., 10-1
Brass Hat ridden by jockey Willie Martinez, 118 lbs., 5-1
Einstein ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, 119 lbs., 6-1
Shadwell Stable’s emerging 4-year-old star Daaher is a Grade I winner will face his biggest challenge yet when he faces 8 other horses this Saturday. Among his rivals is Fred Bradley’s 7-year-old gelding Brass Hat, winner of the race in 2006 Donn Handicap.
Regular jockey Mike Luzzi will fly in from New York for the mount on Daaher for horse trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as the son of Awesome Again makes his first start since capturing the Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct on November 24, his third straight impressive victory and fourth win in seven career starts.
Kiaran McLaughlin and Shadwell teamed up to capture a memorable renewal of the Donn Handicap last year with 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, who went on to capture the Dubai World Cup (gr. I) in late March, a race that would prove to be his career finale. Daaher is expected to be Dubai-bound for this year’s World Cup with a good effort in the Donn.
Brass Hat is on the comeback trail for horse trainer Buff Bradley, the owner-breeder’s son, and is set to make his first start since a very good runner-up effort in the Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs on November 23. Regular rider Willie Martinez will be along for the ride.
A son of Prized, Brass Hat made the long trip to Dubai after his Donn victory in 2006, finishing second to Electrocutionist in the World Cup, but was later disqualified from the purse on a controversial medication ruling. Even without that rich prize money, he has won nearly $1.7 million with a 21-8-5-0 record.
Scoring by a half-length over Brass Hat in the Clark was Allen Paulson Living Trust’s 6-year-old Kentucky homebred A.P. Arrow, who will get plenty of support again in the Donn Handicap with jockey Ramon Dominguez flying in for the mount in his first start since the Churchill Downs race. Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out both A.P. Arrow and Team Valor’s 5-year-old Fairbanks with John R. Velazquez in the saddle.
Two other intriguing prospects in the field of nine are Midnight Cry Stable’s 6-year-old Brazilian-bred Einstein, a Grade I winner on turf, and J. Paul Reddam and WinStar Farm’s 5-year-old Spring At Last, winner of the Godolphin Mile (gr. II) in Dubai last year, who shipped in from California for the Donn Handicap.
Edgar Prado rides Einstein for horse trainer Helen Pitts after an impressive allowance victory on Gulfstream Park’s turf course on January 11 in his first start since an unfortunate experience in the Dixie Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico on Preakness Day in May when he lost his rider while attempting to avoid a fallen rival in front of him.
Einstein scored his biggest career victory in the 2006 Gulfstream Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I), but has won two of three starts on the main track during his 14-race career. The son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winnerSpend a Buck won an allowance race by seven lengths over the Gulfstream Park main track in his race before the Gulfstream Turf score.
Jockey Eibar Coa gets the call on Spring At Last for horse trainer Doug O’Neill as he makes his second start since winning the Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup Day on March 31 by 2 3/4 lengths. The son of Silver Deputy won a one-mile allowance on turf at Santa Anita Park on December 26 in his return to competition this winter.
The Donn Handicap is scheduled as the 9th race in Gulfstream Park’s 10-race program on February 2. Estimated post time is 5:13 pm CST. Gulfstream Park closes Sunday, April 20.
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