Horse Racing News by Jack Shinar

Battle Hardened, given a patient ride by Julien Leparoux, earned the first win of his career when he defeated a big field in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Mr. Commons took another step on what his connections hope will be a special campaign when he rallied from off the pace to win the $150,000 Arcadia Stakes on turf Feb. 4 for his second graded win of the Santa Anita meet.

Willa B Awesome hit the front early and was never headed as she snuck away to an 11-1 upset in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita Jan. 28.

Reneesgotzip, an impressive first-out maiden winner one month ago, sped to the front for jockey Corey Nakatani and never looked back while romping to a 7 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Jan. 15.

She had never won a stakes race, but you could never have guessed it watching Teddy's Promise pull away from the field to easily capture the $300,000 La Brea by 2 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Dec. 31.

Fog City Stable and George Bolton's The Factor cruised to a decisive victory in the Malibu Stakes before a crowd of more than 40,000 on the Dec. 26 opening day card at Santa Anita.

Liaison, whose sire Indian Charlie was euthanized two days earlier, outlasted his rivals in a calvary charge to win the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park Dec. 17.

With an opportunity to enhance their standing for next year's Run for the Roses, 13 promising juvenile colts and geldings are set for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park Dec. 17.

Comma to the Top, on the comeback trail for trainer Peter Miller, picked up his first win since last year's CashCall Futurity in an allowance test at Hollywood Park Dec. 11.

Outsider Killer Graces, the most experienced filly in the field, grabbed the lead near mid-stretch and held off Charm the Maker for her first graded stakes win in the $402,000 Hollywood Starlet Dec. 10 at Hollywood Park.