IEAH Stables' and others' Wishful Tomcat, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., is entered to make his next start in a $53,000 optional allowance purse at Aqueduct on Sunday, February 7. Approximate post time is 1:26 p.m. for the day's third race.
     Ramon Dominguez has the mount on Wishful Tomcat from post position 2 in a field of six. The race was open to ages 4 and up which have not won $40,000 twice since August 1, or which have never won four races other than maiden, claiming, starter, or restricted, or optional claiming price of $100,000.
     The race will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the inner dirt track.
     The following Daily Racing Form coverage previews his scheduled start.
     Wishful Tomcat is favored at 1-1 on the morning line. The consensus selections, in order, of DRF handicappers are Wishful Tomcat (Best bet of day), National Pride, and Reflect Times.
     Michael Hammersly, DRF's analyst, selects Wishful Tomcat, Reflect Times, and National Pride. He writes, "When on his game WISHFUL TOMCAT can knock heads with G2 types. Well, the 5yo is on his game. After 3 straight NY-bred SWs last spring he was sidelined 6 months but he came back firing to win the Robb here Dec. 27. If anything he can move forward off that run and while he faces open foes he can handle it. He faces other speed here but has shown he doesn't have to have the lead to win. REFLECT TIMES blasted home to win a nice optional claimer here Dec. 12. He then found Tiger's Rock, Nite Lite and 13fs too much to handle in the Gallant Fox but he's back to a better distance and the presence of NATIONAL PRIDE and LORD JUSTICE, as well as the top pick, should ensure the brisk type of pace he would like. NATIONAL PRIDE may be peaking. The guy did plenty of good work in 2008 but 2009 was basically a lost year. However, he came here Jan. 6 and led all the way to beat a good group, posting a 98 Beyer. That puts him within reach of the top pick and McLaughlin is having a huge meet (10 for first 26, 38%). If LORD JUSTICE outguns him early he's shown before he can sit and finish."
     Byron King took "A Closer Look" at Wishful Tomcat: "Easily handled Naughty New Yorker in the mud recently, a strong performance off a layoff; as good as that race was, this horse ran even faster in the spring; so he has every right to move forward off the race; won the Discovery as a younger horse and is 4 for 4 racing for Dutrow; 2 for 2 on the inner track, too; choice despite plenty of pace in the race."

     Court Vision and Adagio, owned by IEAH Stables and others, are entered to make their next starts in tomorrow's Grade 1, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap at the Florida track. Approximate post time is 5:18 p.m. for the day's ninth race.
     Person of Interest, recently acquired by IEAH Stables, is entered to make his next start in a $45,000 maiden purse tomorrow at Gulfstream Park. Approximate post time is 3:16 p.m. for the day's fifth race. Person of Interest is the only horse on the also-eligible list, and can only start in the event of a scratch.

     The following Daily Racing Form coverage previews the scheduled starts.

     Court Vision is favored at 8-5 on the morning line, and Adagio is pegged at 12-1. The consensus selections, in order, of DRF handicappers are Court Vision, Take the Points, and Never on Sunday.
     The selections of Mike Welsch, DRF's lead analyst at Gulfstream, mirror the consensus. He writes, "COURT VISION closed out his '09 campaign with his two best efforts since finishing third behind Kip Deville in this race a year ago and training very well for his return to south Fla. Only question the lack of pace in this lineup. TAKE THE POINTS has more tactical speed than the preferred choice and was a two time G1 winner at 3. Looks like these two should be slugging it out at the wire unless Euro-inivader NEVER ON SUNDAY runs back to his Group 1 win in France off the bench in his U.S. bow."
     "A Closer Look" by Byron King:
     Court Vision: "Is the U.S. class of the field, having won multiple G1s on the lawn; gamely took the Shadwell last October in his first race for Dutrow and then was a respectable fourth in the BC Mile, just missing the show; note that he was only a length and a half behind Goldikova; Dutrow excels with fresh horses; choice."
     Adagio: "Is a 7-time winner and an honest runner, but doesn't appear up to this level; he has the look of a horse that was entered to help fill the race for his stablemate, Court Vision; figures are inferior to the top ones in here; longshot would be a big surprise."

     Person of Interest is listed at 4-1 on the line, with Lonesome Street favored at 7-2. Consensus picks: Sea of Sea, Lonesome Street, and El Kingdom.
     Welsch selects Sea of Sea (Best bet of day), Kerouac, and Beau Choix. He writes, "SEA OF SEA, the day's best, looked like a horse in need of a race when debuting at a mile and one sixteenth four weeks earlier. Raced within striking distance and appeared to be making a bit of a run when forced to alter course in early stretch and then hanging late behind well backed stablemate and recent MSW winner Gold Medallion. Worked well over the PM turf since the outing. Looks ready to score today. KEROUAC walked out of the gate about three or four lengths behind the others, recovered to striking position on the turn, faded late while showing some promise at first asking in the slop and likely to improve with switch to grass being out of a mare who won 3 times and was G3 placed on grass. BEAU CHOIX comes off much needed main track outing now returns to what appears to be his favorite surface. Dam won 3 of 9 on turf. El Kingdom extremely well bred top and bottom for the going being by El Prado out of a Dynaformer mare who won four of 15 starts on sod. Kin to G2 winner Diadella. Might need one off the layoff."
     Paul Malecki took "A Closer Look" at Person of Interest: "Half to 3 grass winners, topped by Savage Beauty (3-19, $144K on turf), adds contention to extremely difficult turf affair if in; last-out runnerup to Barbaro's little brother Lentenor has high-profile connections on view; consider if he gets to play."

     Court Vision switches teams

By Mike Welsch, DRF

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When trainer Rick Dutrow won the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap here last season with Kip Deville, it was Court Vision who posed his greatest threat. On Saturday, Dutrow will attempt to defend that title with, as fate would have it, Court Vision, who was transferred to his barn by principal owner IEAH Stables in the summer.

Court Vision is one of two horses Dutrow entered in the $300,000 Gulfstream Turf, along with Adagio. Run at 1 1/8 miles, the race has a field of six, with Dutrow likely to face his stiffest challenge from Take the Points, a two-time Grade 1 winner as a 3-year-old who will be facing older horses for the first time Saturday.

The lineup also includes Yate's Black Cat, a 7-year-old; speedy Le Grand Cru; and Never On Sunday, a French-bred making his U.S. debut for trainer Patrick Biancone.

Court Vision finished third, less than a length behind Kip Deville, in the 2009 Gulfstream Park Turf. He began his career with trainer Bill Mott, who guided him to over $1.1 million in earnings and several notable victories, topped by his last-to-first three-quarter-length win over Cowboy Cal in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in 2008. Court Vision was sent to Dutrow following a sixth-place finish as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 1 United Nations Handicap on July 4.

Court Vision was sidelined several months following surgery to remove an ascended testicle. When he returned, he did so with a flourish - a gutsy nose decision over Karelian in Keeneland's Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. That victory earned Court Vision an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup four weeks later at Santa Anita, where he rallied belatedly and finished fourth behind Goldikova in the Mile.

"He was definitely the horse to beat in this race last year, and he ranged up turning for home like he was going to run by us," Dutrow said, looking back at Court Vision's performance in the 2009 Gulfstream Turf. "Luckily, Kip showed up that day and was able to hold him off. "

Dutrow said he was uncertain whether he would also start Adagio, who like Court Vision is principally owned by IEAH.

"We put him in to ensure there will be pace, but I don't think he really needs to run," said Dutrow. "Court Vision should be able to get the job done himself, although Adagio did draw a good post for a stalking trip, and if somebody were to scratch he might be able to pick up a nice check in a Grade 1 race."

Take the Points makes his first start since finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 29. In his two previous starts, Take the Points won the Grade 1 Secretariat and Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap.

"The Hollywood Derby was a real head-scratcher for me because this horse trained as well or better than before any other race," said Todd Pletcher, who trains Take the Points for Starlight Partners. "He was in perfect position and just didn't punch down the lane."

Pletcher said he sees Court Vision as his chief rival in the Gulfstream Turf, just as Dutrow did last year when he sent out Kip Deville.

"Court Vision is a tough horse," said Pletcher. "He produces a big late run. He's certainly the one to beat."

Never On Sunday was a Group 1 winner in France going 1 1/8 miles last spring but finished far back in his final two starts in 2009.

Yate's Black Cat seems to be getting better with age. He wheels back on short rest after beating a strong group of allowance runners by two lengths here Jan. 22.