Horse Racing News by Jason Shandler

Shotgun Gulch rallied from last and passed favored Amen Hallelujah in deep stretch to post an 11-1 upset in the Grade 1, $300,000 Vinery Madison April 14 at Keeneland.

Without Flashpoint in the Grade 2, $150,000 Swale, everyone else's job just got a heck of a lot easier.

The $1 million Florida Derby was shaping up to be the most intriguing Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands prep of the season anyway. With speedball Flashpoint now involved, it has become a must-watch race for all those handicapping the Triple Crown.

Odds-on favorite Stay Thirsty made a successful 3-year-old debut, taking over from pacesetter The Fed Eased in mid-stretch and rolling to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes March 5 at Aqueduct.

Prince Will I Am scored his second straight graded stakes win when he held off Rahy's Attorney to take the Grade 2, $150,000 Mac Diarmida by three-quarters of a length Feb. 19 at Gulfstream Park.

Fair Grounds was the site of Mission Impazible's biggest victory in last year's Louisiana Derby. After returning from the sidelines, the son of Unbridled's Song hopes to make another big score when he takes on Apart in the Mineshaft Handicap on Feb. 19.

St Trinians will return from the sidelines when making her dirt debut in the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Maria Stakes Feb. 12 at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old mare won the event a year ago.

Should Brethren run big in the Grade 3, $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs, the WinStar Farm homebred is sure to join the mix as a serious Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contender.

Cherokee Queen found the right trip under Alex Solis and used it to bag her first graded stakes victory, taking the Grade 3, $150,000 Suwannee River by two lengths Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

Teaks North, by far the longest shot on the board, ran down Smart Bid in the final stride to post a 25-1 shocker in the Grade 1, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 5.