Horse Racing News by Jerry Bossert

Benefiting from a sizzling early speed duel, Conquest Two Step rallied through the lane to take the $200,250 Palos Verdes Stakes over Secret Circle from Santa Anita Park Jan. 31.

Hard Not to Like hit the wire first in the $150,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes Jan. 31 at Tampa Bay Downs but was disqualified, moving favored Testa Rossi into the winner's circle.

A licensing committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Jan. 28 approved the license request of Scott Blasi, Steve Asmussen's assistant trainer who last year was at the center of allegations from an animal rights group.

The 2013 Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle makes his seasonal debut in the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes from Santa Anita Park Jan. 31.

Rocketing from far back, Forum Racing's Birdatthewire easily took the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes from Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

Suzanne Stables' Barbados became a graded stakes winner Jan. 24 with a hard fought victory over X Y Jet in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Thegirlinthatsong was the first to the wire in the $200,000 La Canada for older fillies Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park.

Fresh off the claim, Sr. Quisqueyano upset the $250,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park, holding off East Hall by a half-length in a shocker.

Points on the road to the Kentucky Derby will be up for grabs in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 17 when 11 promising 3-year-olds go to post in the one mile and seventy yard contest.

Calculator entered the $100,750 Sham Stakes Jan. 10 at Santa Anita Park still a maiden but left a stakes winner after posting a dominating 4-1/4-length victory over stablemate Rock Shandy.