Highland Cat Today - Yes!

- Link to the final entries and morning line odds now posted in the sidebar (or at the bottom of the page for those of you using certain browsers, like Explorer.) Well, this is it here.

- Highland Cat is indeed in, so I’m off to root him home. A couple of the more imposing looking opponents are out, but it still seems like a tough spot, we’ll see.

- Gary Mandella, the trainer of Vosburgh winner Taste of Paradise, has to be amongst those disappointed by the scratch of the potential early speed of Pomeroy (though that wasn’t a certainty given his last effort). He told Bloodhorse.com who he’s pinning his hopes on.

"I'm counting on P Val (jockey Pat Valenzuela on 30-1 shot Attila's Storm) doing what he always does. I'm glad he has a horse in the race. He's notorious for sending out of the gate and attacking big favorites and riding them out of races. He does it everyday in California. If he rides the way he normally does, they'll be plenty of pace."

- Calder is shut through at least the end of the week due to damage inflicted by Hurricane Wilma; in addition, some stables had their roofs blown off and Gulfstream will accommodate them for the time being. As far as the Gulfstream construction site goes, track president Scott Savin said on the Gulfstream website:

“It may be a few days before we can give an accurate assessment of the damage but we remain optimistic that construction of the new Gulfstream Park will get back on schedule.”

They have just a bit more than two months to get it up and running. Check out the construction photos on this page; I don’t mean to doubt the word of Magna when it comes to these construction projects, but does this look like a place that will be able to accommodate a race meeting in two months?