Gulfstream kicks off New Year with pair of sophomore stakes

Casual Trick looks like a major contender for Nick Zito. By Bernardini and

out of the Group 1-winning Red Ransom mare Casual Look, the well-bred colt exits

a good-looking maiden tally at Churchill Downs and has been posting fast works

at Palm Meadows in preparation for his stakes debut. John Velazquez will pick up

the mount.

Other maiden winners of interest include King Kid, a Lemon Drop Kid colt

trained by Dale Romans who rallied to a sharp two-length win when making his

career debut at Churchill Downs last out; the Graham Motion-trained Gold

Megillah, who romped to a 18 1/2-length decision in a two-turn maiden special

weight last time; Politicallycorrect, a winner over the track and distance for

Wesley Ward on December 4; and Nachas and Joy, who exits a nice triumph at

Hawthorne for Jimmy Divito.

The Derby also marks the stakes bow for Reveron, an easy winner of his last

two starts against maiden and allowance rivals at Calder; Yourhonorandglory, who

has registered respectable BRIS numbers in his recent attempts at Parx; and

unbeaten Silver Menace, who was sold and transferred to trainer Kathy Ritvo

following a convincing optional claiming victory at Hawthorne on November 27.

Rounding out the Derby field are longshots Ravelo's Boy and Rex's Last Tour.

In the Old Hat, Quick Flip will make her first start at the graded level. The

Terri Pompay-trained lass captured her career debut at Parx on October 2 and

followed it with a 2 1/4-length score over optional claiming foes at Monmouth

Park on October 23, winning both starts in front-running fashion. Overlooked at

7-1 in the December 10 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the chestnut showed

the ability to rate before pouncing for a 1 1/2-length decision. She will

receive a rider switch to Rajiv Maragh.