Colizeo took plenty of action when he easily beat last year's Belmont Stakes hero Drosselmeyer in Tampa Bay's Challenger Stakes last time. Those two meet again in Sunday's Grade 3 Skip Away, and the 9.5 furlong event at Gulfstream Park also attracted Jackson Bend.
Todd Pletcher's improving colt Colizeo could be a player in a wide open handicap division and a big effort in here could lead to a start against tougher graded rivals. The well bred 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt broke his maiden here last year and owns fine early-pressing speed. Today's rider Ramon Dominguez booted him home at Belmont last fall and a repeat of his March 5 Challenger victory would probably be enough.
Drosselmeyer has a grinding style that plays well over long distances. He needed his 4th place finish in the slow paced Challenger but he could still be a race or two away from his best. Garrett Gomez rides for trainer Bill Mott.
Jackson Bend was only beaten a couple of lengths in his local flat mile graded return. He finished a close-up 3rd at this distance in the Preakness last year and should be fit and ready to rumble.
S.S. Stone has easily captured three straight local races for Nick Zito. He gets tested for class but the versatile son of Birdstone must be respected in his current form.
Challenger runner-up
Jardim is also entered, along with Moe Man, Our Dark Knight, Ron The Greek, Gabriel's Hill, King Ghidorah, and Wingedlie.