Hal's Hope, Spectacular Bid highlight Gulfstream opener

Seventy years since it opened, Gulfstream Park will kick off its 2009 meet on

Saturday with a nine-race card that includes a pair of stakes races, the

$100,000

Hal's Hope H. (G3) and $100,000

Spectacular Bid S. First-race post time in 1:15 p.m. (EST), and the meet

continues through April 23.

Four of the last six Kentucky Derby (G1) winners have wintered in South

Florida, and Gulfstream's main event, the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1), will take

place on March 28. Other highlights of the meet include Sunshine Millions Day on

January 24; $500,000 Donn H. (G1) on January 31; and $250,000 Fountain of Youth

S. (G2) on February 28.

A full field of 14 older horses have been entered for the one-mile Hal's

Hope, including Pennsylvania Derby (G2) hero ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop); Grade

3 victor IT'S A BIRD (Birdonthewire), who exits a runner-up finish in the Kenny

Noe Jr. H. (G3); Discovery H. (G3) winner NOW A VICTOR (Yankee Victor); and

Grade 2 hero DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris), who exits a runner-up finish in the

Clark H. (G2).

The six-furlong Spectacular Bid is the first stakes for newly turned

three-year-olds, and YOU LUCKIE MANN (Exchange Rate) is the likely choice in the

eight-horse field. The Marty Wolfson trainee exits an 11-length romp in the

Birdonthewire S. at Calder. Other runners include Sapling S. (G3) hero SILENT

VALOR (Lion Heart), stakes winner BEE CEE CEE (Songandaprayer) and stakes-placed

NOTONTHESAMEPAGE (Catienus).