Horse Racing News by Claire Novak

An audacious Graydar took it to his more accomplished foes and carried on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park, winning the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) wire-to-wire for Twin Creeks Racing Stable.

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will start for the first time since his thrilling runner-up finish in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Mile when he takes on top turf contender Point of Entry and four others in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap

The sky was the limit Feb. 2 at Tampa Bay Downs, with Falling Sky and Dynamic Sky finishing 1-2 in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes.

What WinStar Farm's Revolutionary lacks in seasoning he made up for in heart at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 2, closing late with a tremendously game effort to win the $200,000 Withers Stakes by a neck.

Owner Benjamin Leon spoke highly of Tapicat following her third-place finish first time out at Belmont Park, and in three starts since then she has rewarded his Besilu Stables with three straight wins on the turf.

Six older horses seek their first graded stakes score in the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 2, led by 120-pound highweight Mine Over Matter and the recently claimed Johannesburg Smile, who carries 118.

Optimizer went wire-to-wire in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 26 for red-hot Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won three stakes races in eight days.

Itsmyluckyday defeated champion Shanghai Bobby and set a track record at Gulfstream Park in the process when he won the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes Jan. 26.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Kauai Katie and in the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26, and only four will face them.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas looks to continue his hot streak in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, sending out Optimizer in the Jan. 26 turf test for older males.