Freehold Raceway is dropping seven races from its 2009 stakes schedule in a move to recoup purse overpayments from last year.

The move will save the harness track about $250,000, Chris McErlean, a board member of track owner Pennwood Racing, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Friday. Pennwood Racing is a joint venture of Pennsylvania-based Greenwood Racing and Penn National Gaming Inc.

The canceled stakes are the James B. Dancer Memorial Stake and the Helen Dancer (Filly Division) for 3-year-old pacers. The track also terminated its ownership rights to the Battle of Freehold for 2-year-old pacers and the Molly Pitcher for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Also being canceled are three races that are part of the late closing series: The Frank Rubinetti, The Swing Back and The Windshield Wiper.

The track hopes to bring back the Dancer Memorials next year, McErlean said.

The New Jersey Racing Commission also approved the tracks request to drop three Tuesday racing cards in March and to add three Wednesdays in May. The dates being dropped are March 10, 17 and 24. The added dates are May 6, 13 and 20.

The extended dry weather in South Florida this winter is exactly what the connections of Patricia Generazios Grade 1-winning turf star Presious Passion have been hoping for as the 6-year-old gelding goes into Saturdays $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Mary Hartmann says the son of Royal Anthem loves firm ground, and shes warily watching the weather for any sign of rain even though the area has had only 32/100ths of an inch of precipitation this year. She points to the geldings runner-up finish in the Sunshine Millions Turf at Santa Anita where rain dampened the usually firm Southern California course (it was rated good that day).

Ill probably bring the rain again, said Hartmann. Were very happy its dry. It was frustrating to get to Santa Anita. It was perfect for three days and the course looked great, and then the day of the race it rains. Im sick of getting a wet track.

Presious Passion ran into wet tracks a lot last year, running over good, yielding or sloppy ground eight times in his last 12 starts. On dry courses he has won the W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) twice at Calder and the Pan American (G3) here.

The Florida-bred chestnut managed to win the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park over a yielding course and ran well in his most recent start over ground with some give to it. Hartmann says theres a reason her Florida-bred charge nearly escaped with a victory in the soggy Sunshine Millions Turf.

They say it was harder on the backstretch and it was yielding on the front stretch, she said. I think thats what cost us the race. If it had been as hard in the stretch they never would have caught him, but the squish in the track got us again.

There is little chance the squish becomes a factor Saturday. The National Weather Service says there is only a slight chance of showers Thursday.

Were very glad to be in Florida, said Hartmann. This weather suits him and hes training super right now.

High Flying Week for Jerkens Could Continue Friday

Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens was still accepting congratulations for the impressive victory by Joseph Shields Jr.s 6-year-old mare Any Limit in Sundays $125,000 Hurricane Bertie (G3) Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park.

He will look to keep the stables momentum going Friday when Mr. and Mrs. Leverett Millers So Glitzy runs in the $100,000 Sabin Stakes (G3).

The 5-year-old daughter of Gilded Time has been roughly on the same schedule as Any Limit over the last few months, and finished ahead of her multiple graded-stakes-winning stablemate last November in the Top Flight Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct, getting fourth while Any Limit was sixth.

Jerkens recognizes that So Glitzy figures to have a difficult task matching Any Limit Friday because of the deeper field.

We knew what we had to do in Any Limits race, said Jerkens. It looks like (So Glitzy) deserves to be a longshot in there.

Any Limit was one of three impressive victories last week for the Jerkens stable. He also sent out Peachtree Stables Matchless Orinda to a runaway allowance win Sunday, the second straight win for the 4-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa.

Jerkens also saddled another Sky Mesa runner, Robert Clays 4-year-old colt Formidable, to a second straight monster effort. The homebred has won his last two starts by a combined 10 lengths, but Jerkens is weighing whether to step the colt up to a stakes like the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) on Mar. 14.

There are two schools of thought: Let them go through their conditions, or go after things right away, said Jerkens. Both Formidable and Matchless Orinda have won a maiden and an allowance race in succession.

If you go through the conditions you might get a horse going off form at the end. Or else you go against heavy horses while theyre doing great. Theres a month. We will see.

Gulfstream Jockeys Sweep All Five OBS Championship Races Monday

While it was dark-day Monday here, a large contingent of Gulfstream Park-based jockeys made the trip north to Ocala for the annual OBS Championship races, and four of them combined to win all five of the events, which were restricted to horses that have gone through an OBS sale.

Jose Lezcano won two of the races for trainer Kirk Ziadie the $50,000 Florida Thoroughbred Charities with Dukes Flying Tiger and the $50,000 OBS Sprint for fillies with R Brown Sugar.

Cornelio Velasquez brought back the richest prize of the day with 3-year-old Cape Royale capturing the $150,000 OBS Championship for trainer Bill White.

Alan Garcia guided 3-year-old filly Fitz Just Right, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, to victory in the $100,000 OBS Championship for fillies, and Elvis Trujillo was aboard Pray For Action in the $50,000 OBS Sprint for trainer Ronny Werner.

The deluge that struck Santa Anita earlier this week left a few soggy spots on the main track on Wednesday morning, and though many trainers decided to hold off on workouts for a second straight day, trainer Julio Canani put his top 3-year-old The Pamplemousse through a critical six-furlong drill for next week’s Sham Stakes, and he could not have been more impressive.
With his regular jockey, Alex Solis, aboard, The Pamplemousse effortlessly cruised through six furlongs on a gorgeous morning here. His official final time was 1:12.40 – Canani had him slightly faster – but the time was not nearly as important as the way in which The Pamplemousse did it. Canani, excitable when he wakes up, was dazzled, so much so that as soon as the work ended, he started spewing off a series of unprintable expletives, not in disgust, but in admiration.

“Did you see that?” is the G-rated version of what Canani said. “Look at him. He was just galloping. Thank God I don’t got the fever.”

He repeated “I don’t got the fever” as he walked animatedly along the apron and past Clocker’s Corner, where several fellow trainers pointed out that, indeed, he was getting the fever. Canani then waited near the top of the stretch, where The Pamplemousse walked by on his way back to the barn, never taking a deep breath.

“Everybody says the track is deep. Look at this horse,” he said. “Look at this horse.”

The Pamplemousse is coming off a front-running win last month in the San Rafael Stakes. He will be seeking his third straight victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Sham on Feb. 28, which will be his first race at 1 1/8 miles.

Solis said The Pamplemousse “felt like he was walking around there.”

“He’s getting stronger,” Solis said. “I like what Julio is doing. He’s letting him catch up with himself rather than forcing it. All his works, he does it in hand.”

Keeping off the track

Only 17 horses recorded works at Santa Anita on Tuesday, and just 41 on Wednesday, as the main track, a Pro-Ride all-weather surface, continued to dry out following the heavy rain of last weekend.

“There’s a wet spot at the three-eighths pole, and management has been very open about saying they needed one more day,” said trainer Eoin Harty, who postponed scheduled works of Colonel John and Well Armed until Thursday. “I’m going to defer to their better judgment.”

Richard Mandella was another trainer who decided to gallop and jog most of his horses.

“The track is still drying out,” Mandella said. “I’ll wait until Thursday. It took a pretty good beating.”

There was no racing at Santa Anita on Wednesday, with the track taking two scheduled dark days following Monday’s holiday card. After training hours were over on Wednesday, track maintenance crews were seen using heavy equipment to work on the surface between the three-eighths pole and five-sixteenths pole.

Country Star retired

Country Star, who was scratched from the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap on Saturday after acting up in the gate, has been retired, trainer Bobby Frankel said Wednesday.

Country Star, 4, had a history of gate problems, including an episode before last year’s Ashland Stakes, in which she finished fifth. Although Country Star was not injured on Saturday, Frankel said that her owner, Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stable, “wanted to retire her.”

“They think she’s worth more as a broodmare,” said Frankel, who said Country Star was scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Thursday. He did not know to whom she would be bred.

Darley acquired Country Star last year when it purchased Stonerside Stable, which bred and had owned Country Star.

Country Star, by the Frankel-trained Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, won three times in seven starts, her biggest wins coming at age 2 in the Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland and the Hollywood Starlet. In her final start, she was second to Life Is Sweet in the El Encino Stakes here on Jan. 18.

Mandella prominent in maiden sprint

Friday’s sixth race, a downhill turf sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-old maidens, drew several well-bred first-time starters, including two – Derive and El Rapido – trained by Mandella.

“They were training so good on the main track that I thought it would be unfair to the other trainers for me to run them on it, so I’m running them on turf,” Mandella cracked.

Mandella said he was hoping Derive would like the turf, being as he is by Cozzene, a Breeders’ Cup Mile winner. But he was more bullish on El Rapido, a son of Seeking the Gold who blew out three furlongs in 37 seconds Wednesday morning.

“He’s been training pretty well,” Mandella said. “He’ll run whether the race is on turf or dirt. Derive, just turf.”

High hopes for maiden

When the Mizzen Mast colt Nathaniel debuted last fall at Oak Tree, he was sent off at 7-2, but finished eighth of 12. Off nearly four months since, he returns on Friday in the third race, and switches to turf for trainer Mike Machowsky.

“He trained like a really nice horse going into that first race,” Machowsky said Wednesday after Nathaniel worked three furlongs in 35.60 seconds. “But he stumbled, grabbed a quarter, and needed a couple of weeks off. His last three works have been super. As long as he likes the grass – and he’s bred for it – he should run super.”

New Bay steps up into San Felipe

New Bay, the winner of a six-furlong allowance race in Monday’s third race, will make his stakes debut in the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 14, said his trainer, Mandella.

Mandella considered Monday’s San Vicente Stakes for New Bay, but opted for the easier allowance race. “He needed more experience,” Mandella said. “I thought this would work out.”

In Monday’s race, New Bay rallied from fifth in a field of sixth to win by three-quarters of a length, finishing in 1:10.85.

The San Felipe, a major prep to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Aprilo4, will be New Bay’s first start at 1 1/16 miles.

“I’m getting the feeling that two turns will be better for him,” Mandella said.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, New Bay, by Cuvee, was purchased for $310,000 at the 2008 Ocala Breeders’ sale of 2-year-olds in training. He made his debut with a fifth-place finish in a maiden race at Hollywood Park last November, and rebounded to win a seven-furlong maiden race by a nose on Jan. 10.

Tyler Baze gets days

Tyler Baze has been suspended for three days for causing interference in the fourth race last Friday. Baze was cited for his ride on Boule d’Or, the third-place finisher in a $10,000 claimer.

Boule d’Or moved to the inside in the stretch of the two-turn race, causing eventual eighth-place finisher Outrageous Limit to take up.

The suspension begins Saturday and ends on Wednesday.

It took more than 45 years to make Tom McCarthy an overnight sensation. Now semi-retired from a life spent first as a trainer, then in public education, McCarthy has hit the jackpot with General Quarters, who scored an upset win last week in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. On a Derby Watch list that includes such prominent names as Bob Baffert and Bobby Frankel, Larry Jones and John Ward, Rick Dutrow, Barclay Tagg, and Steve Asmussen, McCarthy finds himself right there with his horse.
His one and only horse.

“I don’t care if you’re 25 or 75,” said McCarthy, who is 75, “the thrill is still there. Every trainer in America, all they want to do is get to the Derby. It’s a special race.”

Especially for someone who never has come close before, and, odds are, won’t again. McCarthy lives in Louisville, Ky., where he retired in 1990 as a high school principal. Prior to that, though, he trained, mostly in Chicago, before marriage and children forced a more stable lifestyle. He settled in Louisville, operated a small farm while teaching, and dealt with the kind of nondescript horses that fill tracks nationwide every day.

Not until Saturday – not when he was training full time or dabbling part time – had he ever won a stakes race.

“I only take on what I can do myself,” McCarthy said in a telephone interview from Florida. “I’ve kept my hand in it all the time. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t have a horse. I’m a young 75. I keep active. I spend a lot of time with him.”

McCarthy trains what he owns. General Quarters has made his three starts this winter at Tampa listed as being trained by Mark Miller, but that was done while McCarthy recovered, first in Kentucky, from surgery for skin cancers on his face. McCarthy said he will once again be listed as the trainer the next time General Quarters runs.

“He and I communicated every day,” McCarthy said of Miller. “He’s a fine young man, very honest, very sincere.”

Miller, 54, is another small-time trainer. He has just three horses. He and McCarthy met in Louisville at the Trackside training facility, where they would help one another in the mornings. When McCarthy could not get to Tampa at the start of the winter, he asked Miller for assistance.

“I do it all myself. I want it that way,” Miller said in a phone interview. “I’m very hands-on. I had the horse for six weeks before Mr. McCarthy was able to get here. He’s an awesome horse. I hope he goes a long ways. I love him.”

Miller, a native of Louisville, has been on and off the racetrack since 1977. He attended college at Morehead State, the alma mater of Phil Simms, the quarterback turned CBS football analyst.

“I knew since I was 10 years old that this is what I wanted to do with my life,” Miller said. “It’s a tough life. I’ve left, done some bartending, raised a family, and come back. How many people get up every morning and get to do what they love? I’m up at 4, at the barn at 5. There’s a lot of ups and downs, but I love it.”

Of Miller’s three remaining horses, the best, Noroamin, 3, is a $500 purchase who defeated $16,000 maiden claimers at Calder.

“I have gotten calls to train other horses because of General Quarters,” Miller said. “He was a huge benefit.”

McCarthy’s association with General Quarters began at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. There were two colts he liked at the sale that he thought he could afford, both by the sire Sky Mesa. The first one into the ring, out of an Unbridled’s Song mare, “had a funny way of going in his right front,” McCarthy said. He decided to pass on the first colt, who sold for $20,000, and await the second colt.

But the second colt “went out of my price range,” McCarthy said. He left empty-handed.

Last May at Churchill Downs, McCarthy noticed in the entries a pedigree that looked familiar, that of the first colt.

“I knew right away it was him,” McCarthy said.

Now named General Quarters, the gray colt was entered in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race for 2-year-olds.

“He had a couple of nice breezes at Keeneland showing in his past performances,” McCarthy said.

Having saved months of training bills and able to get him for the same price for which he sold as a yearling, McCarthy decided to try and claim General Quarters.

So did three others. But McCarthy won the shake, taking home a colt who won that debut race by a neck for trainer Wesley Ward.

After being overmatched in a stakes race in his second start, General Quarters got a three-month rest. Since returning in October, he has been busy, racing seven times. The Sam Davis was his second win, and he was second in two stakes at Tampa earlier this winter. Not bad for a horse his owner first passed on, then serendipitously acquired.

“He toes in just a hair,” McCarthy said. “He was born with it. But it’s never bothered him. He looks funny when he walks, but not when he runs or gallops.”

In other Derby developments:

Stardom Bound will run against fillies at least once more. She will make her next start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks on March 7, trainer Bobby Frankel said Wednesday.

The Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 14 has been ruled out for I Want Revenge, according to owner David Lanzman, who said I Want Revenge will make his next start in either the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 28 or the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 7.

Flying Pegasus is going to remain at Fair Grounds for the Louisiana Derby on March 14, rather than travel to Oaklawn for the Rebel, trainer Ralph Nicks said. Flying Pegasus was ridden in his last start by Robby Albarado, who has the option of riding Patena in the Louisiana Derby. If both horses go in that race, as expected, a choice mount will come open on whomever Albarado abandons.

Derby Watch chart

WHO’S HOT

Desert Party, who won the United Arab Emirates 2000 Guineas last week, and General Quarters, who scored an upset victory in the Sam Davis Stakes on Saturday, are the two newcomers to the Derby Watch top 20. Desert Party gives Godolphin Racing three horses on the list, along with Midshipman and Vineyard Haven. Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper, pegged Desert Party at 15-1. General Quarters is 50-1 on Watchmaker’s line. Old Fashioned, Watchmaker’s 6-1 favorite last week, was lowered to 5-1 following his win Monday in the Southwest Stakes.

WHO’S NOT

To make room for the two newcomers, both Haynesfield and Silver City were dropped, even though both did nothing really wrong last week. Haynesfield didn’t even race, and Silver City was second to Old Fashioned in the Southwest. But the two newcomers were adjudged by the Derby Watch overlords to be better prospects for the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles at this stage. Vineyard Haven’s price was jumped by Watchmaker to 20-1 from last week’s 10-1, following his loss in the UAE 2000 Guineas.

ON THE BUBBLE

Chocolate Candy, who won the El Camino Real Derby last Saturday, just missed making the cut for the second straight week. Like first runner-up in the Miss America pageant, he’s just waiting in the wings for someone to stumble or be exposed.

Evita Argentina became the first filly in 62 years to win the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes, beating the boys by one length Monday at Santa Anita.

Sent off as the 2-1 wagering favorite in the field of 10, Evita Argentina and jockey Garrett Gomez came flying down the middle of the track to hold off Leedstheway.

Evita Argentina ran 7 furlongs in 1:24.30, becoming just the third filly in the races 68-year history to win the Kentucky Derby prep for 3-year-olds.

With several speed horses in the field, the Kentucky-bred filly had ample pace to set up her usual come-from-behind move. Evita Argentina, who was last in the early going and then went four horses wide in the stretch, paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80.

The track is soggy all over, but at the three-eighths pole, it seemed a little deeper and she got off the bridle with me, so I really had to work on her to get her to running again, Gomez said. She was able to wear them down, but I know she can run even better than that.

Gato Go Win was another 1 lengths back in third and returned $3.80. He and Leedstheway, who paid $6.40 and $5, are both trained by Jeff Mullins.

Trainer Bob Bafferts duo of Ventana and Wall Street Wonder, making his stakes debut, finished in a dead-heat for fourth.

Winning trainer John Sadler wasnt feeling well and stayed home, leaving assistant Larry Benavidez to saddle Evita Argentina, who earned her third career stakes win. She was coming off a second-place finish to stablemate Alpha Kitten in the Santa Ynez Stakes a month ago.

I was pretty confident because this filly is going to give you her run no matter what, Benavidez said. Garrett cut the corner perfect. It was a great ride by him.

He said the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 14 in New Orleans might be next for the filly.

The race went off under sunny skies during a temporary break in the rainy weather. Minutes after the winners circle ceremony, heavy showers pelted the track but didnt noticeably affect its synthetic surface the way rain would have turned a dirt surface into a quagmire.

Hubble Bubble was the last filly to win the race in 1947, doing so by disqualification. Her victory came two years after Busher, who was named Horse of the Year as a 3-year-old, became the first filly to do so. Busher was owned by movie producer Louis B. Mayer, who co-founded Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio.

Gallant Son was fifth, followed by Smokey Lonesome, Cut the Check, Congor Bay and Point Attended.

In the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap for fillies and mares, Jibboom held off Foxysox to win by 2 1/2 lengths and give Gomez a sweep of the days stakes races.

It was Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankels 909th victory at Santa Anita, where he is the career wins leader. He also saddled last years winner, Costume, who was ridden by Gomez.

This time, the heavy favorite came through for trainer Larry Jones.

Old Fashioned won the Southwest Stakes on Monday, passing Silver City on the second turn to remain undefeated in the first of Oaklawn Parks three big Kentucky Derby prep races. The victory was a sweet one for Jones, who trained Hard Spun when that favored horse finished fourth in this race two years ago.

That was a tough day, Jones said. It was just something you had to swallow. Thank goodness this one lived up to the billing and all went well.

Hard Spuns loss in 2007 was a flukethe horse ended up second in the Kentucky Derby that year. Old Fashioned has shown similar potential, winning his first four starts. The colt won a pair of races in November by a combined 22 3/4 lengths. This was his 2009 debut.

About 20 minutes before the race, Old Fashioneds odds were posted at 1-9 and almost every other entry was considered a longshot. Six other horsesmore than half of the 11-horse fieldwere posted at 60-1 or longer.

He can make you feel like youre invincible, Jones said.

Old Fashioned went off at 1-2, broke immediately toward the front and then settled in behind Silver City on the backstretch. Old Fashioned, with Ramon Dominguez aboard, made his move with ease to win by 3 lengths in the $250,000 race.

Old Fashioned covered a mile on the fast track in 1 minute, 37.4 seconds, equaling the time posted by Smarty Jones when he won the Southwest in 2004. The fractions were fastthe first quarter-mile in 22.47 seconds and a half-mile in 45.98.

Down the backside I knew we were going fast but it didnt feel like he was rushing to keep up with the leader, Dominguez said. When I caught up to the leader at the top of the stretch he dug in and finished strong. I hope that stretch run did him some good.

Silver City (7-2) held on gamely for second place and could be a Kentucky Derby contender after acquitting himself well against Old Fashioned.

He settled in down the backside and relaxed. I thought he was doing it within himself, said Miguel Mena, Silver Citys jockey. When the winner came to us at the quarter pole he fought back and never stopped trying.

Jones was also complimentary of the runner-up.

I think this was a very good effort on his part, Jones said. I hope, and I really feel, that he ran into a special horse today.

Buzzin And Dreamin (64-1) was third.

Old Fashioned paid $3 on a $2 win bet. A $2 exacta paid all of $7.80.

If Old Fashioned reaches the Kentucky Derby, he could be a sentimental favorite. Last year, Jones trained the filly Eight Belles, who was euthanized in a heartbreaking scene after breaking down following a second-place finish in the Derby. Jones, 52, has said he plans to retire after this years Breeders Cup.

Oaklawns next two big Derby preps are the Rebel next month and the Arkansas Derby in April. Thats the same path Smarty Jones took in 2004 en route to a Kentucky Derby victory.

Other recent Arkansas Derby champions included Curlin and Afleet Alex. Jones wouldnt make any promises, but Old Fashioneds camp seems keen to keep the horse in Arkansas.

We dont want to move, Jones said. I dont think theres a better series in the country to get you ready for the Derby.

West Coast Flier extended his winning streak to four Monday, capturing the $49,000 allowance feature at Aqueduct by four lengths.

The 5-year-old gelding, ridden by Pablo Morales and trained by Gary Contessa, won for the ninth time in 27 starts. The time was 1:09.91 for the six furlongs on the fast track.

West Coast Flier paid $9.90, $4.50 and $2.70. Band of Thunder returned $4.10 and $2.50. Temecula Creek, the 9-5 favorite, paid $2.10 to show.

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Sears wins 7 on Meadowlands harness card

Brian Sears drove seven winners on the Presidents Day afternoon card at the Meadowlands, including Oliver Cleo in the featured $73,500 Art Unger Stake.

Besides winning the featured sixth race, Sears won the days first two races on the card with Mrs Grant Seven and CR Dream Catcher. He also won the fourth, eighth, ninth and 10th races.

Winning payouts ranged from $3 on Carrs Character in the 10th to $12.80 on MCA in the ninth race.

Before Sears feat on Monday, the last driver to win seven races on a 10-race card at the Meadowlands was John Campbell on Feb. 3, 1983.

The 41-year-old Sears was second in the sport in earnings last year with $116.5 million.

In each of the last two years, Larry Jones has trained Kentucky Derby contendersso his high praise for 3-year-old Old Fashioned is worth taking seriously.

Right now, Old Fashioneds ahead of anything Ive had at this stage, Jones said last week.

Old Fashioned will make his 2009 debut Monday as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Southwest Stakes, the first of Oaklawn Parks three big Kentucky Derby prep races. Old Fashioned has won all three of his career starts. The colts last two victories, in November, were by a combined 22 3/4 lengths.

Hes also been tested at two turns. His last two races were a mile and 1 1/8 miles. The Southwest will be a mile.

Hes ahead of the curve, Jones said. It takes very little training to have him here. Hes got a lot of natural fitness.

If all goes well in the Southwest, it could be on to Oaklawns next two big prepsthe Rebel next month and the Arkansas Derby in April. Of course, two years ago, Jones trained Hard Spun, who was a 1-9 favorite shortly before finishing fourth in the Southwest.

Hard Spun was then moved from OaklawnJones said the surface wasnt to the horses liking.

I wasnt blaming the track by any means, Jones said. It was justI didnt have the horse for that course.

Hard Spun bounced back to finish second in the Kentucky Derby that year. Jones also trained last years Derby runner-up, the filly Eight Belles, who was euthanized in a heartbreaking scene after breaking down just beyond the finish.

Jones has said he plans to retire after this years Breeders Cup.

Were looking forward to it, he said. Ive got a lot of grandkids to spoil.

The second choice Monday is Silver City at 7-2. Trained by Bret Calhoun, the colt has won his last three starts, including the Dixieland at Oaklawn last month.

The field for the $250,000 Southwest, from the rail out: Retap (10-1), Loch Dubh (20-1), Silver City, Gresham (10-1), Old Fashioned, Buzzin And Dreamin (20-1), Flat Out (6-1), Professor Z (12-1), Poltergeist (8-1), Silver Bayer (20-1) and Kick On (12-1).

Any Limit turned the tables on Game Face by winning the $122,500 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sunday.

Any Limit, beaten last month by Game Face in the First Lady Handicap, drew off to defeat the 2-5 favorite by 1 lengths in the Grade 3 race for fillies and mares.

Lovely Isle was third, 6 lengths behind Game Face. Saratoga Tango was fourth and Orinoquia fifth in the small field.

Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, Any Limit ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.95 and paid $9.50, $3.20 and $2.20. Game Face paid $2.10 and $2.10. Lovely Isle returned $2.20 to show.

As expected, Any Limit broke on top with Lovely Isle second and Game Face third. At the far turn, Any Limit led Lovely Isle by a length with the favorite another length back in third.

Turning for home, Game Face moved up on the inside and caught Any Limit as they passed the eighth pole. But she never got by her like she did a month ago.

Bred and owned by Joseph V. Shields Jr., Any Limit is a 6-year-old daughter of Lilit Out. Last year, she won successive Grade 2 stakesthe First Flight Handicap at Belmont and the Honorable Miss at Saratoga. The mare has earned $619,138 with nine victories in 25 starts.

Life Is Sweet rallied from last to win Sundays $200,000 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Life Is Sweet ran the final eighth of a mile in 11.20 seconds to overtake Magical Fantasy. Life Is Sweet was clocked in 1:49.70 for 1 1-8 miles.

The daughter of Storm Cat paid $4.40, $3 and $2.40 as the 6-5 favorite. Magical Fantasy returned $4.20 and $2.80, while Bsharpsonata was another neck back in third and paid $2.40 to show.

As we went down the backstretch, I just tried to inch up a little closer. At the three-eighths pole, we were closer, but I didnt know if she could quicken enough to catch those other fillies, Gomez said.

She really showed a great turn of foot, and to be able to overcome that slow pace like we did is amazing. You can see her stride gets longer as she gets closer to the wire.

Life Is Sweet was coming off a 2 1/2 -length victory in the El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 16.

Her latest victory, worth $120,000, increased her career earnings to $360,810, with four wins in nine starts.

In the co-featured $100,000 Daytona Handicap, Breeders Cup Sprint winner Desert Code won by 2 1/2 lengths. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf in 1:12.58.

Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Desert Code paid $6.20, $4 and $3 as the 2-1 wagering favorite. Euroglide returned $7.40 and $5, while Guns On the Table was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $6.20 to show.

The victory, worth $60,000, increased Desert Codes career earnings to $1,088,939, with seven wins in 20 starts. It was his fifth win over Santa Anitas turf course.