Quality Road endured a rocky 3-year-old season but looks to be well on his way to a solid 4-year-old campaign. He'll try to affirm that progress Saturday in the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, the first major race of the year for older horses.

Quality Road won the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby at Gulfstream in the spring, then missed the Triple Crown with quarter cracks. Transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher, he returned to set a track record in the Amsterdam at Saratoga, but then ran third in the Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup while behaving poorly at the gate each time. Entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic, he refused to enter the gate and then panicked while blindfolded, requiring him to be scratched. Following extensive gate schooling with former NYRA starter Bob Duncan, he returned for a workmanlike and well-behaved score in the Grade III Hal's Hope on Gulfstream's opening day and appears poised to move forward from here. The son of Elusive Quality drew the four for the nine furlong contest under regular rider Johnny Velazquez and will go off the favorite. He carries highweight of 123, giving between six to 10 pounds to his nine rivals.

Several other horses who have performed well at Gulfstream in recent weeks will return here. You and I Forever challenged Quality Road around the far turn in the Hal's Hope before his rival pulled away. The son of standout filly You returns here and will break from the two under Elvis Trujillo for trainer Marty Wolfson. Duke of Mischief, who leaves from three under Eibar Coa, rallied from the back to catch Kiss The Kid by a neck in the Fort Lauderdale here last month. Kiss The Kid is also back and drew the rail under Eddie Castro. Mambo Meister (Kent Desormeaux, post 8) was third in the Fort Lauderdale; Dry Martini (Javier Castellano, post 5), who also won the Suburban last summer at Belmont, was fourth.

Multiple graded-placed Past the Point (Edgar Prado, post 6), Helsinki (Robby Albarado, post 7), Dubai Gold (Jose Lezcano, post 9) and the veteran campaigner Delightful Kiss (Juan Levya, post 10) complete the field.

Also on the Gulfstream card is the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap at nine furlongs. Court Vision leaves from the five under Albarado for trainer Rick Dutrow. The multiple Grade I winner has earned over $1.5 million and took the Shadwell Mile last fall; he hasn't started since finishing a good fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Take the Points breaks from the five under Prado for Pletcher. He enjoyed a solid 3-year-old campaign once moved to the lawn last summer, winning the Grade I Secretariat and Jamacia. But most recently he was off the board in the Hollywood Derby.

Lady Shakespeare, a full sister to multiple Grade I winner Shakespeare, headlines the Grade III Suwanee River Stakes. The filly won the Ontario Colleen last year and finished second in the Marshua's River here last time out.

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The speedy Eightyfiveinafifty looks to take a step up in class and see if he can get on the Triple Crown trail in Aqueduct's Whirlaway Stakes, the first of New York's preps leading up to the Wood Memorial. He's the clear standout in a field of six for the mile and a sixteenth race, his first try around two turns. The son of Forest Camp drew attention by blitzing his way to a 17 1/2 maiden win here last month, finishing in 1:10.85 for six furlongs. The colt, who was third in his career debut at Saratoga last summer, has worked sharply for this. There's no doubt he will be out front early and ensure an honest pace, but the question is how far he can carry his speed.

Pletcher sends out Three Day Rush, winner of the Monmouth Park NATC Futurity and most recently, a Gulfstream allowance. He leaves from the five under David Cohen, who's enjoying a successful inner track meet.

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Two solid horses are looking to return to their past form as older campaigners go a mile and a sixteenth in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn. Jonesboro, who has earned over $1.4 million, drew the rail and is the highweight at 120. The multiple graded winner likes this track; he won the Essex three years ago, the Razorback two years ago and was this in the Oaklawn Handicap last year. But most recently, he finished last in the Ack Ack. Abel Castellano rides today.

Win Willy was expected to make some noise on the Triple Crown trail last year - he won the Rebel here, handing multiple stakeswinner Old Fashioned his first loss, then was fourth in the Arkansas Derby (behind San Fernando winner Papa Clem, Old Fashioned and champion Summer Bird). However, he was injured training Derby week and laid off for several months. He has a win and a third in three starts back, with that win coming at Oaklawn in an optional event last time out. Cliff Berry is in the irons.

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Santa Anita was scheduled to run a card with three graded stakes - the Grade I Las Virgenes and the Grade II Strub and Robert B. Lewis. But heavy rain in the Arcadia area and poor drainage led to the cancellation of live racing for Saturday. The track has struggled with poor drainage as California has experienced heavy rains this winter; several weeks ago, Santa Anita lost nearly a week of racing to the weather.