Horse Racing News by Jerry Bossert

Lea left no doubts he's back, posting an impressive 1/2-length victory over Confrontation to take the $150,000 Hal's Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10.

After racing primarily as a grass horse early in his career, Lea looked like he would be a major player on the dirt in 2014, when he began a promising campaign with victories in the $100,000 Hal's Hope Stakes and the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream.

Parranda is ready to run, and that should come as bad news to her nine rivals in the $150,000 Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT) Jan. 10 at Gulfstream Park.

Ekati's Phaeton wouldn't be denied in her bid for a first stakes victory, holding off R Sassy Lass through the stretch to take the $100,000 Old Hat at Gulfstream Park by a half length Jan. 3.

Despite bobbling at the start and racing wide on the first turn, favored El Kabeir posted an impressive 4-3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Jerome Stakes Jan. 3 from rainy Aqueduct Racetrack.

El Kabeir has earned 11 points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, but is looking for more as he heads the field in the $200,000 Jerome Stakes Jan. 3 from Aqueduct Racetrack.

Fresh off of a victory in last month's Kenny Noe Jr. Stakes, Speechify will be the one to beat in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes Dec. 27 from Gulfstream Park.

Jockey Javier Castellano notched his first winner at the Gulfstream Park meeting Dec. 13 when he rallied Merry Meadow from just off the pace to post a 1-1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes.

A small but talented field of six fillies and mares is to go to post in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes from Gulfstream Park Dec. 13.

Ranked first among owners with $9.77 million in earnings this year, Ken and Sarah Ramsey can add to that total Nov. 15 when multiple Grade 1 winner Big Blue Kitten goes to post in the $250,000 Red Smith Handicap from Aqueduct Racetrack.