Horse Racing News by David Grening

R Heat Lightning may have established herself as the favorite for next month's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs with a dominant 8 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks at Gulfstream Park.

That performance will most likely make R Heat Lightning the favorite in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.

Subscribing to the theory that familiarity breeds success, the connections of defending Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Unrivaled Belle chose the Grade 2, $300,000 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs over the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.

Watch Me Go defeated fellow longshot Crimson Knight in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Not that he probably needs it, but Calibrachoa will have a little help from one of his friends when he seeks his third straight stakes victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.

Stay Thirsty will try to step out of the shadow of his more heralded stablemate Uncle Mo and step onto the Triple Crown trail when he heads a field of nine entered to run in Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

Though her connections view her as a two-turn horse, Harissa displayed the ability to handle one turn just as well, cruising to a 2 1/4-length victory under Ramon Dominguez in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.

Though Sweet Goodbye will have a home-court advantage over a quartet of New York shippers, her connections will be relying simply on her talent when she seeks a repeat victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.

Toby's Corner passed his two-turn and stakes debut with aplomb Saturday at Aqueduct and may have put himself on the Triple Crown trail with a two-length victory in the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes over a muddy inner track.

Live racing was canceled at Aqueduct Friday because track officials feared the effects of an overnight storm might cause damage to the inner track. It was the third weather-related cancellation of the winter meet.