Wildcat Creek comes in for Hutcheson Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - A field of six three-year-olds have been entered for Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong contest is an early prep for next month's $1 million Florida Derby.

Coming back to the Miami area is Wildcat Creek after a pair of stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Trained by Edward Plesa Jr., the colt will start from post two with Angel Serpa riding.

Wildcat Creek, owned by BNB Racing and Rick Shanely, was second in both the Inaugural and Pasco Stakes at Tampa. In six career starts he has one win and two second-place finishes for $60,814.

Il Villano also ships in for the Hutcheson. The gray colt will be ridden by Elvis Trujillo from post five.

Trained by Susan Crowell, Il Villano began the year with a third behind Alpha in the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct last month. As a two-year-old he won the Lord Henribee Stakes at Aqueduct in November and the following month captured the Southampton Stakes at Parx Racing. He has earned $140,300 for owner Chuck Russo in five lifetime starts.

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard has entered Ever So Lucky with Julien Leparoux set to ride from the outside post. Owned by Augustin Stable, the colt will be making his 2012 debut.

"Julien has experience with this colt and will know where to place him, depending on the way the race comes up," Sheppard said. "He's already had a race at a mile-and-a-sixteenth so we know he handles the distance. We thought coming off the layoff the seven-eighths race would be the right distance. He's adaptable to be placed wherever he?s comfortable."

After breaking his maiden at first asking Ever So Lucky was second as the 8-5 favorite last November in the Kentucky Jockey Club. In his two starts the colt has earned $61,102.

Here is the full field from the rail out for the Hutcheson: Tarpy's Goal, Javier Castellano; Wildcat Creek, Angel Serpa; Thunder Moccasin, John Velazquez; Quick Wit, Ramon Dominguez; Il Villano, Elvis Trujillo and Ever So Lucky, Julien Leparoux.

The Hutcheson has a post-time Saturday of 3:50 p.m. (et).