Horse Racing News by Mike Welsch

The Grade 2 Davona Dale traditionally serves as a prep for the richer Bonnie Miss later in the meet.

Trainer Bruce Levine has all but ruled out any chance of making the Grade 1 Florida Derby here on March 20 with Buddy's Saint and will now focus on using the Grade 1 Wood Memorial two weeks later at Aqueduct for his 3-year-old's final Kentucky Derby prep.

Presious Passion has already received his invitation to the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic.

While many of the leading Kentucky Derby candidates stabled in south Florida ran here Saturday afternoon, another member of that elite group, Noble's Promise, did his major work earlier that morning.

Trainer Phil Gleaves has an unenviable decision to make on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Downs will roll out the red carpet for a champion on Saturday when dual Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti comes to town to kick off his 2010 campaign in the $150,000 Tampa Bay Breeders Cup.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has decided not to appeal the 10-day suspension and $25,000 fine handed down last month by the California Horse Racing Board for a positive test for the anesthetic procaine in 2008.

The decision by Fair Grounds to rearrange its stakes schedule and push the Louisiana Derby back to March 27 did much more than simply motivate Gulfstream management to move the Grade 1 Florida Derby up a week to March 20.

Anybody planning to be outside around the Hallandale Beach area on Saturday would be best advised to bring an umbrella along.

Rule all but earned himself a spot in this year's Kentucky Derby field when closing out his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the Grade 3, $750,000 Delta Jackpot.