Tick tock.

            While racing gets into stride at Saratoga, it won’t be long before the leaves on the trees in upstate New York turn and cooler climes are at hand.

            This coming Wednesday, opening day at Gulfstream Park is 150 days away.
      Speaking of Saratoga, the name of this year’s Florida Derby/Fountain of Youth winner, Quality Road, turned up in Monday’s entries at the Spa.

            Quality Road, who became the 13th to sweep Gulfstream Park’s most prestigious stakes for 3-year-olds, is now in the barn of Todd Pletcher, Gulfstream Park’s leading trainer each of the last six years. Jimmy Jerkens trained the son of Exclusive Quality to his Gulfstream victories.

            Edward P. Evans still owns the colt and Johnny Velazquez retains the mount. Quality Road, whose connections have designs on Saratoga’s $1 million Travers Aug. 29, has not worked since his March 28 Florida Derby (Presented by Blackberry) victory because of foot problems that kept him from the matching the Triple Crown success of recent Florida Derby winners Barbaro and Big Brown.

            The Amsterdam is a $150,000, 6½-furlong event. Quality Road competed at the same distance in his winning career debut at Aqueduct last November. He was second in his Gulfstream bow on Jan. 10, then won the FOY on Feb. 28 prior to his Florida Derby victory.

            Among those opposing Quality Road Monday will be the dangerous Capt. Candy Man, fourth in the Fountain of Youth after winning the Hutcheson here. Capt. Candy Man won his career debut at Saratoga last year and is coming off victories in the Bay Shore and Matt Winn stakes.

·        While Quality Road appears to be rounding back into form, another Florida Derby winner, Bull Inthe Heather (right), found a safe haven in Kentucky at Old Friends Ranch, a Georgetown, Ky.,-based retirement home for thoroughbred racehorses.

            The farm used some of the money that Gulfstream Park donated this past Florida Derby Day to return Bull Inthe Heather east. He had been standing in New Mexico and Washington State. Bull Inthe Heather won the 1993 Florida Derby, paying $60.80, and was second in the Fountain of Youth as well.

            Among the residents at Old Friends are Bonnie’s Poker, dam of champion Silver Charm; Arlington Million winner Awad and Travers-Whitney winner Will’s Way.