Etc...

Spangled Star had been gradually improving with each start. In his previous attempt, the 2-year-old faced off in what was not your average stretch duel.

Under Luis Garcia, Spangled Star led through most of the November 16 maiden special weight. Then eventual winner Bailey's Beach caught up to the Vinery colt and Garcia dropped his stick. Acting quickly, Garcia replaced his whip with a pair of his goggles. Although Spangled Star dug down, the nose of Bailey's Beach got to the wire first.

On Saturday, Spangled Star returned to the scene of his narrow defeat and made easy work of this bunch. Coming from off the pace this time, the Distorted Humor colt scampered home by 4 1/4 lengths under Jeremy Rose.

Gulfstream 2010 is here

The Hallandale Beach track opens its gates on Sunday January 3 with the feature the Grade III Hal's Hope featuring Florida Derby champion Quality Road.

Heading to the starting gate for Herringswell is Desertstormelite. The daughter of Chester House races for Mitchell Ranch in the fifth race, a $50,000 claimer on the turf.

Wednesday, Cherokee Queen will break from the rail in a non-winners of three races other than going 1-mile on the turf.

On Thursday Salsa Star (pictured) will make a return to the races. The Sagamore Farm 4-year-old was last seen at Pimlico in May when she broke her maiden impressively by 5 1/2 lengths. Making her first start on U.S soil that day, Jeremy Rose stalked the slow pace and opened up with ease. That day, Miss MVP ran third, and shows up to meet Salsa Star again. Showing her no sympathy, in her next start, Miss MVP ran fourth our own Million Seller at Colonial.

Angel's Cove will hope for a scratch to draw into Thursday's fouth race. A maiden claiming $75,000, traveling 7 1/2 furlongs on the lawn.

Jeremy Rose is named to ride all four runners.

Tale Of The Cat Colt Impresses Again

Augustin Stables' Cat Park stopped for a Coca-Cola and hot dog in the Calder grandstand before coming up just short of capturing the Grade III Tropical Park Derby. Eventual winner Fly By Phil and pace-setter Lost Aptitude began to drift, then Cat Park followed the trend. The three of them, roughly 8, 10 and 12 wide hit the wire seperated by 1-length.

Cat Park, continues to continue with grass and distance. The bottom half of the young 3-year-old's pedigree is the Dynaformer mare, Dynamic Cat. The distance on the bottom is a crafty mix with the speed on top of stallion Tale Of The Cat. This concoction is not out of the ordinary for clever breeder George Strawbridge. His 3-year-old fillies, Smart Seattle (Smart Strike) and Zilva (Successful Appeal) are strapped with distance from mares Seattle Bay and Spellmaker respectively.