Horse Racing News

Two months out from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert already has stable star Game On Dude penciled in for the prestigious 1 1/4-mile test.

Gulfstream Park's preliminary filing for racing dates shows it plans to have racing every week, in some cases just on Saturdays and Sundays, with a total of 153 race days during the 12 months beginning July 1.

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens gave official confirmation Jan .3 to the rumors that have been flying since he started getting back on Thoroughbreds eight weeks ago; on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita Park, he'll again start riding races.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik closed out a career-best season Dec. 31, securing the highest spot ever for a female jockey on the North American leader board in 2012.

Merit Man proved his mettle in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes Jan. 1, coming back off a runner-up finish to Hightail in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint to prove his class at Gulfstream Park.

Jockey Rajiv Maragh, who was involved in a spill in the second race at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 31, will be sidelined at least two weeks after sustaining a hairline fracture of the T3 vertebrae in his upper back, according to his agent, Matt Muzikar.

Kauai Katie blew past pacesetter Cor Cor at the top of the stretch and drew off to an easy win in Tuesday's Grade 3, $98,000 Old Hat at Gulfstream Park, a six-furlong test for newly turned three-year-old fillies.

Trainer Simon Callaghan has unleashed another classy import on the Southern California turf scene, judging by Qaraaba's authoritative victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $151,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita.

Stud El Aguila's Indiano turned the tables on Action Andy with a strong outside rally to take the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park Dec. 29.

It was the wrong lead but the right result for Comma to the Top, who slugged his way to a 1 3/4-length victory while becoming racing's newest millionaire in an off-the-turf edition of the $100,000 Daytona Stakes Dec. 29 at Santa Anita Park.