Horse Racing News by Mike Welsch

Kathmanblu asserted her class through the stretch, outfinishing Excited by 1 1/4 lengths to register a popular victory in Saturday's $100,000 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park.

Tar Heel Mom appeared home free at midstretch in last year's $100,000 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park only to falter in the final strides and finish third, beaten a head by Pretty Prolific.

Trainer David Fawkes said it would have been a little embarrassing to show up at Monday's night's Eclipse Award ceremonies had his Eclipse Award candidate Big Drama lost his 2011 debut 48 hours earlier in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Mr. Prospector.

Mucho Macho Man, among the leading candidates for the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Jan. 30, took his first major step in that direction by working a bullet five furlongs in 59.01 seconds Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

On Saturday, the vastly improved Soaring Empire turned the tables when holding off a late bid from Rule to register a 1 1/4-length victory in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Hal's Hope. Morning Line finished third as the 3-5 favorite.

This is a new year and Zito is upbeat about both his prospects in 2011 and those of Morning Line, the probable favorite and horse to beat in Saturday's $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

hanging Skies bounced back from her poorest performance since shipping to the U.S. during the summer of 2009 with a convincing 3 3/4-length victory over Casablanca Smile in Sunday's $150,000 La Prevoyante Handicap at Calder.

Heavy rains earlier in the day might have put a damper on Saturday's $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder but not on trainer Michelle Nihei's enthusiasm or love for her star 3-year-old Prince Will I Am.

On paper, it was obvious there was very little early speed in Saturday's $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap at Calder. That fact was not lost on trainer Marty Wolfson or jockey Luis Saez.

Goldikova a made history Saturday at Churchill Downs, becoming the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races after surging through the stretch to a convincing 1 3/4-length victory over two-time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti in the Breeders' Cup Mile.