Gulfstream gears up for stakes-packed weekend

Donald Dizney's homebred colt FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even) became a

familiar name on the national scene last season when placing in the Preakness S. (G1), Belmont

S. (G1) and other major three-year-old events. Now the four-year-old

gets his 2011 campaign going as one of the choices in Saturday's $500,000

Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream.

The 1 1/8-mile test is the richest of the three Sunshine Millions races to be

run at Gulfstream while three others races in the Florida-bred vs.

California-bred series will go that afternoon at Santa Anita. The other

Gulfstream races will be the $300,000

Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at 1

1/8 miles and the $200,000

Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint at six

furlongs.

First Dude drew post 1 in a field of 10 with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard for

trainer Dale Romans. Florida-breds are assured of a sweep in the Classic as there

are no California-breds entered. First Dude will be making his first start since

finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on November 6

behind Blame and Horse of the Year Zenyatta.

The bay colt put together a productive, but frustrating, season

for his connections as he placed in five straight Grade 1 stakes, including the

Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park and Travers (G1) at Saratoga

following the Triple Crown events. He also lost a neck decision when second in

the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Philadelphia Park in September prior

to the Breeders' Cup.

ASKBUT I WON'TTELL (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) completed her 2010

season with victories in the Cardinal H. (G3) at Churchill Downs in

November and My Charmer H. (G3) at Calder in early December after arriving

in South Florida for the winter season. That form will likely send her out

as the favorite in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan gets the return call on Askbut I Won'ttell for trainer

Chris Block in the full field of 14 with one on the also-eligible list. The

five-year-old mare was a regular traveler throughout the Midwest last

season, winning an allowance at Fair Grounds early in her campaign and a stakes at Arlington Park in mid-May.

She also finished a game second in the Belle Mahone S. at

Woodbine in August.

DYNASLEW (Dyanformer), who won the Ballston Spa H. (G2) and Beaugay

S. (G3) last season, will make her first start since a modest sixth in

the First Lady S. (G1) in October. The Live Oak homebred ran strongly in

two other major stakes in 2010, finishing second in the All Along S.

(G3) and a neck fourth in the Diana S. (G1) behind multiple Grade 1

winner Proviso (GB).

Leparoux rides Amen Hallelujah for trainer Rick Dutrow as she

makes her first start since losing a narrow half-length decision when second to

Champagne d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Acorn S. (G1) at Belmont Park on June 5. The

dark bay miss began the 2010 season winning the Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa

Anita in January before heading to the Atlantic Coast to add Gulfstream's Davona Dale S. (G2)

to her resume by 6 1/4

lengths in late February. Prior to her Acorn second, Amen Hallelujah was sixth

in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Jessica is Back scored the most important victory of her career when

capturing the

Princess Rooney H. (G1) in July at Calder before a third-place effort in

the Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga in late August. The Wolfson trainee had a very rough trip finishing ninth in the

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Churchill on November 5 in her last

start of the 2010.

The seven-year-old mare was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton November sale two nights

later and, although she did not meet her reserve in the ring, was sold privately

to Carolyn Vogel for $475,000. She was sent back to Wolfson at Calder to prepare

for a start or two before being bred in the spring, but needs to improve on

her recent seventh-place effort in the January 15 Sugar Swirl S. (G3). Jockey

Alex Solis has the call.