HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Trainer Todd Pletcher said he circled Feb. 14 on his calendar over a month ago as a day when a lot of good things could happen for his 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park. And sure enough they did.

Pletcher topped off an already successful afternoon by sending out Limehouse and Deputy Storm to finish first and second in Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes. Pletcher had already watched his Value Plus register an impressive victory in his 3-year-old debut and his potential Florida Derby hopeful, Shaniko, finish second behind the promising Swingforthefences under first-level allowance conditions.

Limehouse was making his first start since finishing third behind Eurosilver in the Grade 2 Lane's End Futurity on Oct. 4. Allowed by jockey John Velazquez to settle near mid-pack while saving ground down the backstretch, Limehouse eased out in early stretch and then ran down his uncoupled stablemate Deputy Storm, inside the sixteenth pole before drawing off by a widening 2 1/4 lengths.

Deputy Storm had been idle even longer than Limehouse, not having started since he finished second in Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Sapling on Aug. 9. Racing without blinkers for the first time since launching his career in May, Deputy Storm easily sprinted to command under jockey Jerry Bailey, setting fractions of 21.68 and 43.73 seconds. He settled into the stretch with a clear lead but proved no match for the winner.

Saratoga County overcame a very eventful trip to finish third. Wynn Dot Comma, a tepid 2-1 favorite, had to steady in traffic a couple of times around the turn and was a distant fourth.

Limehouse, a son of Grand Slam, is owned by the Dogwood Stable. He covered seven furlongs in 1:22.23 over a fast track and paid $10.40. Advertisement

"He was really super-game," Pletcher said of Limehouse.

Pletcher noted that the scratch of Silver Rapt had placed Limehouse in the rail position, "and you never want to be in the 1 post going seven furlongs. I thought he ran very well to run down a horse who looked like he had something left."

Pletcher said he had nothing in mind at the moment for either Limehouse or Deputy Storm.

"We have a lot of options," said Pletcher. "We'll see how they come out of the race then sit down, talk things over, and sort it out." Mr. Jester looks for another jackpot By MARCUS HERSH NEW ORLEANS - Mr. Jester, one of the prime Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the region, has come from his base at Oaklawn Park to begin his 3-year-old season Sunday in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.

The van ride from Oaklawn to New Orleans takes about eight hours. The hope is Mr. Jester makes it all the way to Churchill Downs.

Mr. Jester, one of about 15 horses owned by Kaaren Biggs and trained by Steve Wren at Oaklawn, is the likely favorite among seven 3-year-olds entered in the Grade 3, $150,000 Risen Star. Nightlifeatbigblue was cross-entered in a Saturday allowance, while Assault Commander and Oneverycoolcat look overmatched. The others are Gradepoint, who makes his stakes debut; Polish Rifle, fifth in the Lecomte Stakes; and Shiloh Bound, undefeated in three starts.

Mr. Jester hasn't raced since he won the $1 million Delta Jackpot by three-quarters of a length over Fire Slam, winner of the Lecomte here. Mr. Jester also won the Pioneer at Louisiana Downs, and was placed first after finishing second by a nose in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile.

Plans call for Mr. Jester to move from the Risen Star on to the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby, and then into the Triple Crown if the colt is good enough. The long-range campaign has Wren thinking beyond Sunday.

"He's breezed a few times," Wren said. "He went seven-eighths of a mile, and we put a stiff five-eighths into him. I haven't hammered on him, but he should be fit enough, unless he catches a tiring track. This isn't his ultimate goal. I want to have him set up for his next two starts."

Mr. Jester shipped here Wednesday and looks spectacular. He is tall, muscular, and alert, with a radiant coat. Roman Chapa rides, and should keep Mr. Jester fairly close to a moderate pace from post 2. Advertisement

Shiloh Bound probably will lead early, though Nightlifeatbigblue has speed if his connections opt for this much tougher spot. No horse yet has outfinished Shiloh Bound, who won the Black Gold Handicap by a half-length in his last start.

Polish Rifle was the even-money favorite in the Lecomte but struggled home fifth.

"I think he trains way too good to believe that was as well as he can run," trainer Steve Asmusssen said.

Gradepoint, an A.P. Indy colt with two straight wins, will race from far behind, and trainer Neil Howard concedes his colt is at the mercy of pace. But Howard also said Gradepoint has trained well on wet tracks, and his chances increase in mud. Rain is forecast here through Saturday night, but Sunday's forecast calls for a partly cloudy day.