A number of horses who were major players in their divisions last year are returning to the races this weekend - with an eye toward bigger prizes down the road, perhaps at the Saratoga meet.

I Want Revenge and Regal Ransom, two 4-year-olds who could be players in the handicap division if they flash their old form, both return in this afternoon's Suburban Handicap at Belmont. I Want Revenge won the 2009 Wood Memorial to stamp himself as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but heartbreakingly, was scratched the morning of the race with an injury. He's coming off a layoff of nearly 15 months since that Wood win, but trainer Rick Dutrow is high on his chances. Joe Talamo, who partnered the colt to those solid wins in the Gotham and Wood, flies in to ride. Regal Ransom, winner of last year's UAE Derby and Super Derby, is making his first start for Godolphin since finishing eighth behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic last Nov. 7. Also in the gate for the small but select field will be Haynesfield, the 2009 New York-bred Horse of the Year who is making his second start of 2010, having won an allowance event last out. If I Want Revenge or Regal Ransom can flash their old form, or if Haynesfield can handle the step up in class, we can expect to see them in some of the major events for older horses at Saratoga this summer.

Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird makes his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Classic in the Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs on Sunday. The one-mile event on the turf, which drew a full field of 14, will be the 4-year-old gelding's first start on the grass. Trainer Wayne Lukas, who took over Mine That Bird's training in May, is using the race as a prep for the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 7. Mine That Bird is still looking for his first win since the Derby. Meanwhile, his younger half-brother is looking for his first win, period. The aptly-named Brother Bird starts on the same weekend, ironically, as one of the favorites in a maiden at Belmont today. Brother Bird was third in his career debut at Saratoga last summer and has finished second in all three of his starts since.

Gozzip Gal is making her first start of 2010 in the Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth on Sunday. Well, kind of. The Grade I winner was entered in the New York Stakes at Belmont on June 19, but that race was over for her as soon as the gate opened, as she stumbled badly and dropped rider Ramon Dominguez. The filly is pointing for the Diana Handicap at Saratoga on July 31, but this won't be an easy prep. The race's full field of 14 drew 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Maram. Trained by Mechanicville native Chad Brown, the classy filly is coming off a runner-up effort by a nose in the Eatontown Handicap on May 31.