Weekend stakes preview: Many looking for breakthrough in CTS

A field of 11 face off in this grade III on the Gulfstream lawn, which immediately precedes the Fountain of Youth.

1. Rogue Victory (Victory Gallop-Romp and Stomp, by Olympio): Won an allowance two starts back.

2. Sporting Art (Donerail Court-Playful Run, by Run Softly): Kent Desormeaux rides this one, who began his career in England before coming to the states last year, when he took the Palm Beach Stakes and Calder Derby. Finished third in the Colonial Turf Cup last time out coming off an eight-mnth layoff.

3. Hey Byrn (Put It Back-Restraining Order, by Skip Trial): Remember his third-place finish to Big Brown in last year’s Florida Derby, when both were just flashy allowance winners? Eddie Plesa trainee is making his first start on grass after winning an allowance to start the year and running up the track in the Sunshine Millions Classic.

4. Buffalo Man (El Prado-Perfect Six, by Saratoga Six): Canadian-bred has lost four straight since a win at Monmouth last summer, including an eighth-place finish over this course last month.

5. Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris-Deputy's Delight, by French Deputy): Became a millionaire with his third-place finish in the Sunshine Millions Classic after opening the season with a win in the Hal’s Hope. This is his first start on grass since May 2007; they’re hoping to use it as a springboard to a start in the Dubai’s Goldolphin Mile next month. Sox of his 24 starts have been on grass, and he’s only won once on it, in his second career start. Calvin Borel keeps the mount.

6. Passager (Anaaba-Passionee, by Woodman): Edgar Prado rides this French-bred, making his first start in America after earning group III wins overseas.

7. Vanquisher (Gulch-The Relentless Cat, by Storm Cat): Alan Garcia has the mount for trainer Bill Mott. Has won back-to-back races, including the ungraded Talahassee here last time out.

8. Just as Well (AP Indy-No Matter What, by Nureyev): Julien Leparoux rides this one, who was second in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 1 to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Kip Deville.

9. Twilight Meteor (Smart Strike-One Over Prime, by With Approval): Canadian-bred showed some real promise on turf as a three year old; came off a nearly nine-month layoff to be fourth in an allowance here last time out. John Velazquez has the mount.

10. Bujagali (Johannesburg-River Melody, by River Man): Kieran McLaughlin trainee was laid off since April 2008; came back to be fifth and sixth in a pair of starts.

11. Buddy's Humor (Distorted Humor-Hello Barbara Sue, by Dehere): Seventh in the Jan. 10 Ft. Lauderdale last time out.

Railbird's picks: Sporting Art looks to be the class of the field, and Delightful Kiss will take a lot of action despite the question marks about the grass. If neither of those two fires, I like Just As Well to pick up the pieces. Gave a nice effort last time out.