This Week at the Races

Both Now and Forever (Maria's Mon) and David's Rock (Candy Ride) graduated this week at Tampa Bay and Laurel respectively.

Now and Forever, previously second in two honest starts, used a rail trip to hold off a challenger in deep stretch to break her maiden under Jeremy Rose. In her prior start at Gulfstream she traveled even longer than the 1 1/8 miles affair while wide and still managed a close second.

David's Rock turned for home even with a rival before leaving him in his wake at the quarter pole to win by 7 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old Candy Ride colt relished the addition of blinkers in his second career try. In his first start, the bay looked clear but swerved badly before the wire and finished third. David's Rock was also ridden by Rose.

Proper Authority (Silver Deputy) made his return to the races off of a 14-month layoff for Pin Oak. In just his second start, the 4-year-old ran an impressive third while trying the grass for the first time.

Cozy Cottage (Pine Bluff) gets the unlucky award of the week. The 4-year-old grey made her second career start on Friday and had a full tank on the turn but was forced to steady behind a wall of horses. She pricked her ears, split horses and gained but was passed by a more fortunate rival.