Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Las Vegas, NV -- The Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes comes our way this Sunday, February 26th from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The race is open to horses Four-Years-Old and Upward who are willing to go 1 3/8 miles on Gulfstream's Turf track. A field of 10 have been assembled for the 10th race on Gulfstream's exciting Sunday Card. Post time is 4:45 PM ET.

The strong field will take to the track in front of a packed house, most of whom will be eagerly anticipating the race directly following the Mac Diarmida: the highly anticipated Fountain of Youth Stakes. Here is a breakdown of the 10 entries and their recent results for what should be a wide open race on Sunday.

Mac Diarmida Handicap Race Favorites

Musketier - 10 year old Musketier makes his 45th start on Sunday looking for his 11th win. Musketier had a good 2011 winning three Graded Stakes races. Last time out was a win at the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder on November 26th. Before that, Musketier was a disappointing 6th in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine. Musketier was third in this race last year and will have John Velazquez in the saddle.

Mac Diarmida Stakes horse betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Simmard - Simmard was second to Musketier at the McKnight Handicap last time out and also finished an impressive second in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine in September. Sandwiched between the impressive results is a 13th place finish in the Canadian International Stakes October 16th.

Remaining Field Entries

Eagle Poise - comes into the Mac Diarmida on a two race win streak - the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes and an Allowance race, both at Woodbine toward the end of 2011. In 20 career starts, Eagle Poise has six wins, four seconds and one third place finish.

Crimson China - won the Lamplighter Stakes at Monmouth then failed to place in the next three starts. Most recently finished third in an Allowance Optional Claiming on January 21st at Gulfstream. This will be Crimson China's first race at this distance.

Mambo Meister - has won Graded Stakes races on turf and dirt in 41 career starts. Mambo Meister most recently finished a disappointing 10th at the Grade 3 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream on January 14th and before that was second at the Grade 2 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder in November.

Newsdad - Julien Leparoux returns to ride Newsdad after a win last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 28th. In 13 career starts, Newsdad has three firsts, one second and three third place finishes in 13 career starts.

Mister Colin - will make his Graded Stakes debut after wins in an Allowance Optional Claiming January 21st and a Claiming race January 2nd both at Gulfstream.

Dixie Emperor - will race for the first time in quite a while. Dixie Emperor has six wins, three seconds and six third place finishes in 19 career starts.

Center Divider - finished fourth at the W.L. McKnight Handicap in a race that Musketier and Simmard went 1 - 2 in November and followed that up with a win at an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream on January 21st.

Middie - has just two wins in 10 career starts and most recently finished fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming race on January 22nd at Gulfstream.

Mac Diarmida Stakes Entries

Race 10 on Gulstream's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:45 PM ET.