HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The new meet is bringing some upgrades across the property, including the Jockey Club, according to Oaklawn president Lou Cella.

“On the club side, we’ve now completed renovation of all new televisions on every table,” he said. “Every table in the club has a brand new, beautiful television. We also put a gift shop in the club.”

Oaklawn also is offering club members an Oaklawn credit card. It’s an account for which they can charge anything on the property.

“It’s just a little perk,” said Cella.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park’s opening day got off to a rousing start Friday morning when Arkansas Derby winner Sandman breezed over the local strip as part of an outstanding division of horses Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse is preparing for the meet.

It’s a regular Mark’s Millionaires Row, really.

The time trials for Sunday’s $1.92 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity had been underway for nearly five hours on the evening of Nov. 23 when Political Twist started in the last division.

Political Twist was the last high-profile runner in 12 trials, racing at night for the first time in his seventh start.

Can’t Help Myself’s chances for a first stakes win in Sunday’s $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for 2-year-old statebred milers at Los Alamitos will be slightly easier than expected.

Trained by John Sadler for owner and breeder Pete Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, Can’t Help Myself was third in the $177,000 Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Oct. 31, finishing behind Ocean Bear and Sammy Davis.

Even as trainer Chris Block this fall bade farewell to the mare Oeuvre, a multi-season stakes stalwart in his stable, the 4-year-old colt Moonlight was developing into a stakes horse.

Moonlight probably heads next to the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes on Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds, his winter base, while Oeuvre has headed off to life as a broodmare.

Rather than make his regular move to Fair Grounds following the end of the Churchill Downs meet late last month, the jockey Florent Geroux followed a far different path. The Japan Racing Association granted Geroux a short-term license spanning Dec. 5-31 and Geroux has taken the opportunity to expand his horizons.

Not long after winning the Clark Stakes on Nov. 30, Magnitude shipped south and settled comfortably into his winter home in the Steve Asmussen barn at Fair Grounds. His next race comes far from home: the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

“Magnitude will be in New Orleans until he gets on a plane and goes to Saudi Arabia,” said David Fiske, racing manager for Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, Magnitude’s owner. “He’s doing great. I get videos of him every morning.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Free Like a Girl is now likely retired and her connections would no doubt love to see her pass the baton to Front Runnin, who will attempt to win her fourth straight race Sunday in the $135,000 Astral Spa at Oaklawn Park.

The six-furlong overnight stakes is for 2-year-old fillies and closes the meet’s opening weekend. A field of 10 has signed on, led by Carolyncaroline, Debbie Doll, and Victory Music.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s been hard to get Kentucky bourbon in Ontario due to the current trade war between the United States and Canada. Those missing the popular whiskey could pad their bankroll with hunch play Awesome Bourbon in Sunday’s $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes, Woodbine’s closing-day feature.