Hutcheson Stakes first up on way to Louisville

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Gulfstream Park's first stakes race of 2008 for three-year-olds is set for Saturday. The $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes has attracted a field 10 colts in the seven-furlong test.

Trainer Nick Zito has the entry of Cool Coal Man and Coal Play from owner Robert LaPenta in the race. Cool Coal Man has drawn post three with Coal Play breaking from the far outside post. Cornelio Velazquez has been named to ride both horses.

Cool Coal Man has won two of five starts for $71,731, but is coming off a disappointing seventh place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. He was sent off at 5-2 in the seven horse field, but faded in the stretch.

Stablemate Coal Play was second to Check It Twice as the 9-10 favorite last month in the What a Pleasure. Sired by Mineshaft along with Cool Coal Man, Coal Play has earned $52,147 in three starts and one win.

LaPenta and Zito also race Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ War Pass.

Notgivinmyloveaway comes out of a victory in the Pennsylvania Nursery at Philadelphia Park, a race that Hard Spun captured as a two-year-old. Owned by Jus Luk Stable, Notgivinmyloveaway has two wins in four starts for $95,312. His first three starts were at Woodbine in Canada for trainer Reade Baker. The colt will start from post eight with jockey Edgar Prado.

Grand Minstrel, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, has drawn post two with Eibar Coa back to ride. The colt has won two of five starts for $101,350, with a win in the Capote Stakes at Aqueduct last month.

Here is the complete field for the Hutcheson in post position order: Tiz It, John Velazquez; Grand Minstrel, Eibar Coa; Cool Coal Man, Cornelio Velasquez; Halo Najib, Kent Desormeaux; Smooth Air, Manoel Cruz; Silver Edition, Rene Douglas; Big Truck, Javier Castellano; Notgivinmyloveaway, Edgar Prado; Golden Spikes, Eddie Castro and Coal Play, Cornelio.

With a post-time of 5:00 p.m. (et), the Hutcheson Stakes is the lead-off event for Gulfstream's Kentucky Derby preps. The Fountain of Youth comes up on February 24 and the Florida Derby is set for March 29. The Holy Bull Stakes on April 12 comes three weeks before the Run for the Roses.