Donn Draws 10

A solid field of 10 drew for Saturday's G Donn H. at Gulfstream Park Wednesday. The entries are highlighted by last year's Donn winner Lea (First Samurai) who, after being sidelined for nearly a year, returned to take the GIII Hal's Hope S. in impressive fashion Jan. 10. “I'd say, he's probably coming into the Donn the same as he was last year,” trainer Bill Mott said. “He's coming off a good race and I'm happy with him,” Mott said. “He's good enough to be in the race, but I can't predict the outcome.” Sloane Avenue (Candy Ride {Arg}) adds some international flair to the field as well. The 4-year-old most recently took Kempton's Hyde S. Nov. 19.

“We've wanted to give him a go on the dirt for a little while, trainer Jeremy Noseda said. “We thought about going to Dubai for the [G1] Maktoum Challenge and, then discussing it with Paul Roy, decided we'd sort of take a different route and have a go in America. I had to look at races that would suit him, and if you're going to come this far and the expense that goes along with it, you have to go for something that has a decent purse. Yes, the competition is going to be harder but it's something that's worthwhile.” 

Conditioner Todd Pletcher will send out three from his barn in Constitution (Tapit), Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and Protonico (Giant's Causeway). Constinution, winner of last year's GI Florida Derby, returned from an injury to finish fourth in an optional claimer at Belmont in October and was third in the GI Clark H. Nov. 28. “The horse has been training really well,” Pletcher explained. “He certainly seemed to like Gulfstream last year.” 

Protonico, winner of the GIII Smarty Jones S., annexed the GIII Discovery H. at Aqueduct Nov. 1 before finishing second by a half-length to Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) in the GI Clark H. “I think he ran well and I think it should springboard him forward into this race,” Pletcher said. “I think the added distance will be to his liking. He seems to be coming into this race in good order.” 

Commissioner was sidelined after finishing second in the GI Belmont S. and returned to the races with a third in an optional claimer here Jan. 10. “I think he ran well and I think it should springboard him forward into this race,” Pletcher said. “I think the added distance will be to his liking. He seems to be coming into this race in good order.”