Gun Runner, Venus Valentine exit Fair Grounds stakes in good order; Songbird wor

Gun Runner, Venus Valentine exit Fair Grounds stakes in

good order; Songbird works

The winners and also-rans from Saturday's Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair

Grounds appeared to exit their races well, according to the connections on

Sunday. Gun Runner is headed to the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) on March

26 following his Risen Star (G2) victory and Venus Valentine will get the chance

to prove her 74-1 upset in the TwinSpires.com Rachel Alexandra (G2) was no fluke

in the TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on the same day.

Songbird worked an easy five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Santa Anita on Sunday, and

jockey Gary Stevens talked up Ziconic's debut effort from Saturday.

Zulu and Awesome Speed each worked four furlongs on Sunday to ready for next

Saturday's Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Undefeated Zulu will

be making his stakes bow in the 1 1/16-mile contest and posted a half in :48.21

at Palm Beach Downs. Awesome Speed exits a pair of stakes victories and covered

four panels in :48.30 at Palm Meadows.

Japan hosted a pair of stakes contests on Sunday that could have international implications. Nonkono Yume,

nominated to the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), finished second to trace-record setting Moanin in

the February S. (Jpn-G1) while Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Lani could only finish fifth behind

Gold Dream in the Hyacinth S.

Kellie Reilly took a look at Southwest (G3) winner Suddenbreakingnews' pedigree

and discovered he's bred for the classics.