HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Knoty Knicks, Hard Storm, and Omaha Storm finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, while separated by just over a length when meeting for the first time on Dec. 7. Of even more significance to handicappers is the fact that the three were all beaten that day by neck winner Alpyland, who flattered the race when returning to win the Dania Beach Stakes by a more comfortable margin four weeks later.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The budding rivalry between Pantherian and Wamo began as 2-year-olds last fall and continues into their 3-year-old seasons this winter, with the two New York-breds meeting for a third time in a first-level allowance on Sunday’s eight-race Aqueduct program.

Pantherian and Wamo dueled virtually from the beginning of a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on Oct. 24. Wamo crossed the wire first by a head but was disqualified for herding Pantherian out four paths in deep stretch.

A week after it was canceled because of rain, Sunday’s $100,000 James Dreyer Charger Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos has drawn the same 10 fillies and mares.

Post positions for the 400-yard race have changed, which could benefit 2025 winner Rockin With Energy.

The race is named in honor of Dreyer, a former leading rider and the regular rider of champion Charger Bar. Dreyer, who was also a steward, died in 2025.

The Keeneland January horses of all ages sale might be slightly smaller than last year, but there is still serious quality on offer.

Keeneland has cataloged 1,097 horses for the two-day mixed sale on Monday and Tuesday, including supplemental entries as of Friday morning. Last year, 1,322 hips were ultimately cataloged for a three-day sale.

Thunders Rocknroll will be returning to her roots Monday, when she cuts back to a sprint for the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller on opening day at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla.

The Wilma Mankiller, for fillies and mares at six furlongs, is a longtime staple on the local stakes schedule. But it is being run much earlier on the calendar as Will Rogers is launching its season nearly two months ahead of last year’s start on March 3.

ARCADIA, Calif. – On dirt and turf, filly and mare sprinters command attention Sunday in a pair of Grade 3 stakes at Santa Anita.

Race 5 is the Las Flores, a six-furlong dirt raffle in which all seven entrants seek their first U.S. stakes win. Thermal may go favored off a runaway allowance win. She faces narrow allowance winner Magnificat. The Las Flores was postponed from Jan. 4 when racing was canceled.

Workout videos available for public viewing started popping up a few years ago, the most horseplayer-friendly tool to appear in a long time. Alas, their availability has waned in recent months. Yes, it takes resource allocation to pay camera people and sort videos. It’s worth it! Here’s hoping the powers that be start feeling that way at some point.

San Vicente

On Nov. 29 in the Pan Zareta Stakes, Big Trouble finally avoided trouble in a Fair Grounds turf sprint, and that spelled big trouble for the opposition. Trouble is, after winning by the better part of three lengths at odds of 4-1, Big Trouble goes to post a considerably shorter price Saturday in the $100,000 Nelson Menard Memorial.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Lure Him In and Lightning Tones used similar styles to account for the last two editions of the $75,000 Sunshine Classic at Gulfstream Park. But the dynamic figures to be a bit different when the pair square off for the third time in the last three months in Saturday’s renewal of the 1 1/16-mile fixture for Florida-breds that shares top billing on the card with the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf.

Trial just missed against a fine foe in the My Charmer Stakes last month at Turfway, and Literate was right behind her. Both have license to improve as they match up in the $125,000 Likely Exchange Stakes on Saturday night in Florence, Ky., a race for fillies and mares going the same one mile on the Tapeta.