Horse Racing News

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.

Jimmy Creed, a disappointment in last month's Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint, rebounded with an emphatic victory in the $301,000 Malibu Stakes on opening day of the winter meet at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26.

Silentio, a lightly-raced son of Japanese-bred stallion Silent Name , registered victory in his stakes debut Dec. 26 in the $150,750 Sir Beaufort on the turf at Santa Anita Park on opening day of the winter meet.