Horse Racing News by Claire Novak

There's no doubt Optimizer has been a different horse since Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas moved him to grass -- the grass at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in particular.

Starlight Stables' 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby drew the rail in a field of 10 for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby to be run March 30 at Gulfstream Park, with Holy Bull Stakes winner Itsmyluckyday assigned post 3.

Team Valor International's Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, drew post 12 of 13 when the field was drawn March 27 for the $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates to be run March 30 at Meydan.

American interests He's Had Enough and Dice Flavor take on top Godolphin contender Secret Number in the $2 million UAE Derby March 30 at Meydan, three of 12 sophomores entered for the 1900-meter (about 1 3/16 miles) Tapeta event.

John D. Gunther's homebred Last Gunfighter survived a troubled start and came through on the rail to win the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is holding the hottest hand of 3-year-olds he's had in a while, and that talent showed March 16 when stablemates Will Take Charge and Oxbow finished 1-2 in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Discreet Dancer picked up the pieces of an incident-marred running of the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap at when Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned stumbled at the start.

Verrazano lived up to his billing as a top Triple Crown contender with a solid three-length score over eight other sophomores in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Highly-regarded sophomore Verrazano makes his stakes debut against eight others March 9 in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, rolling in off an impressive 16 3/4-length allowance optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park.

Pick Six Racing's Vyjack remained unbeaten in four starts and proceeded on the road to the Kentucky Derby with an impressive late run March 2 in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.