Quality Road wins Donn like a monster

He might not have beaten much, but like they say, a horse can only defeat what shows up in the starting gate.

Quality Road stamped himself as the top older handicap horse in the country Saturday, easily winning the $500,000 Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in Florida by 12 3/4 lengths over Dry Martini in a track-record time of 1:47.49 for the 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

Anyone who thinks Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will have the spotlight to themselves this year better think again.

Quality Road, the 2-5 favorite with John Velazquez in the saddle, is two for two this year after his Breeders' Cup Classic antics last November at Santa Anita when he refused to enter the starting gate and had to be scratched.

The Elusive Quality colt, trained by Todd Pletcher, has won six of nine lifetime. Too bad we still have Pro-Ride at Santa Anita or we might have gotten a chance to see this guy in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6.

Whatever, Quality Road figures as a major player this season if he stays healthy. He could be this year's Curlin.