OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mama’s Gold and Donegal Surges have traded decisions the last two times they’ve met, with the former besting the latter in the $250,000 Empire Classic for New York-breds seven weeks ago.

Thursday, the pair tee it up again for a less lucrative purse in a $95,000, second-level allowance event that serves as the feature on Aqueduct’s nine-race program. In an effort to bring back races lost when the Dec. 5 card was canceled, the racing office has added races Thursday and Friday, both 10-race cards.

Top American sprinter Straight No Chaser may be bound for the Middle East in early 2025.

Trainer Dan Blacker said Sunday that Straight No Chaser is an intended starter in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint at six furlongs on Feb. 22 in Saudi Arabia. The $2 million race is part of the program that includes the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Blacker said the Group 1 Golden Shaheen, a $2 million race at six furlongs April 5 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, is another goal.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Thursday’s main event at Gulfstream Park is a modest $43,000 allowance/optional claimer restricted to Florida-bred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta course. The race drew a field of seven, with trainer Jose D’Angelo’s Rachels Song likely to be heavily favored once again despite having been outfinished by Victory Badge when second as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite under similar conditions Nov. 22.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato turned in his final major prep for his 2024 finale, the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, on Monday morning at the Palm Meadows training center, going six furlongs from the five-eighths pole in 1:13.80, per Daily Racing Form clocker Donald Harris. The move confirmed his status for the Malibu and had trainer Jose D’Angelo brimming with confidence several hours later.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The connections of White Abarrio have announced a slight change in plans for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner’s next start and final prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational here Jan. 25, opting for the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Mr. Prospector on Dec. 28 rather than the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday here one week earlier.

Earlier this year, trainer Cherie DeVaux had More Than Looks ready for his 2024 debut when he got a leg caught in his stall webbing and injured a tendon, prompting the trainer to remark how horses love to scuttle plans – a fact well known to anyone who works hands-on with horses.

Welcoming a classic winner to a stallion roster is a proud moment. Welcoming two to the roster in the same year is an exceptional rarity. Spendthrift Farm will welcome two winners of American Triple Crown races to its stallion ranks for the 2025 season – and if that isn’t enough, the farm adds another Grade 1 winner as well.

There may still be scorch marks on the Saratoga turf from Cogburn’s virtuoso performance in this year’s Grade 1 Jaipur as he sizzled 5 1/2 furlongs in less than a minute for a North American record.

Despite a loss in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in his career finale, Cogburn will begin his stallion career as an extremely hot commodity whose bandwagon is becoming crowded with supporters.

A stallion is only half the equation – and, in getting a new stallion off on the right foot, a premium is placed on the quality of mares behind him. Few are in a position to support their new stallions better than Mandy Pope.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The well-traveled I’m A Gambler found his calling on the Tapeta at Woodbine this year and will be favored in Thursday’s headliner, a 6 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option.

Bred in Ireland, I’m A Gambler made his first 24 starts in England, where he was a productive handicap horse in turf sprints from 2021-22. The 5-year-old was imported to the United States late in 2022 and was a minor player in turf stakes in Southern California for trainer Mark Glatt.