Roses in May, Saint Liam square off in dandy Donn

Saturday's $500,000 Donn H. (G1) brings together two of the best older horses

in training, ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) and SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado), at

Gulfstream Park. Both runners will be making their five-year-old debut in the 1

1/8-mile event, which drew a total of six entrants.

Roses in May won his first five starts in 2004, distinguishing himself with

victories in the Whitney H. (G1) and Kentucky Cup Classic (G2), before turning

in an excellent runner-up finish to Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome

Again) in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). John Velazquez rides the Dale Romans

trainee, who is the 121-pound highweight.

Saint Liam finished second by only a neck to Ghostzapper in the Woodward S.

(G1) last September and then wrapped up his season with a strong 1 1/4-length

score in the Clark H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr.,

the bay horse will tote 119 pounds, including jockey Edgar Prado.

While the top two appear very formidable, EDDINGTON (Unbridled) and PIES

PROSPECT (Crafty Prospector) also merit respect. The former was classic-placed

last season and ended his sophomore campaign with a win in the Calder Derby

(G3). Eddington returned in sharp fashion this year, drilling optional claiming

foes by 8 3/4 lengths last month at Gulfstream, and could be much improved at

four for trainer Mark Hennig. The Nick Zito-trained Pies Prospect will enter the

Donn off a commendable 8 1/2-length triumph in the nine-furlong Fred W. Hooper

H. (G3) at Calder and is a three-time stakes winner.

The Donn field, from inside out with riders and weights, is Eddington, Eibar

Coa, 114; Pies Prospect, Javier Castellano, 114; SEEK GOLD (Touch Gold), Jerry

Bailey, 113; WISHINGITWAS (Sandpit [Brz]), Brice Blanc, 113; Roses in May; and

Saint Liam.

The $150,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) for three-year-old fillies will be run on

the Donn undercard and features a field of seven. Grade 2 heroine SIS CITY (Slew

City Slew) is the top draw for the 1 1/8-mile event. A respectable fourth in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the Dutrow-trained lass closed out her

juvenile season with a stellar 3 3/4-length win in the Demoiselle S. (G2).

Challengers include the Grade 2-placed IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile), who

opened this year with a nice allowance score at Gulfstream, and stakes winners

DANCE AWAY CAPOTE (Capote) and LEONA'S KNIGHT (Suave Prospect).

MOCITA (Boundary) will lead the post parade under a 115-pound impost that

includes Eddie Castro. Next comes Sis City, Velazquez, 121; In the Gold, Prado,

117; KRISTEN KRISTEN (Storm Boot), Blanc, 115; Dance Away Capote, Ramon

Dominguez, 119; Leona's Knight, Carlos Olivero, 121; and JILL ROBIN L

(Precocity), Roberto Alvarado Jr., 117.

Sophomore fillies sprint 6 1/2 furlongs earlier on the program in the

$100,000 Old Hat S. (G3), which drew a field of seven. Top contenders include

the unbeaten MADDALENA (Good and Tough), who exits a sharp 6 3/4-length

allowance score for trainer Todd Pletcher, and Astarita S. (G3) winner TOLL

TAKER (Bernstein).

Sprinters will also be featured in the $100,000 Deputy Minister H. (G3) at

Gulfstream. The 6 1/2-furlong test features seven contestants, including KELA

(Numerous), who recorded victories last year in the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup H.

(G1), Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup H. (G2), and Texas Mile S. (G3). Dwyer S. (G2)

hero MEDALLIST (Touch Gold) is another formidable win candidate off a 4

1/2-length triumph in the Kenny Noe Jr. H. Pletcher will send out

the once-beaten Grade 3 winner FOREST DANGER (Forestry), who has not started

since finishing second to Medallist in the Withers S. (G3) last May.