HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – White Abarrio put the finishing touches on preparations for his much anticipated showdown with Horse of the Year Sovereignty next Saturday in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap by breezing an easy half-mile in 49.79 seconds Friday at Gulfstream Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The are plenty of questions for the leading contenders in the featured ninth race Sunday at Oaklawn Park. Will Queen Mallard carry her speed around two turns? Can Lady Woopig overcome post 12? Does Principal Anita’s focus improve with blinkers on?

These questions will be answered during the running of the first-level allowance for fillies and mares bred in Arkansas. The $125,000 race will be held over 1 1/16 miles and could produce starters for the $150,000 Natural State Breeders’ on April 30.

Charlie O’Connor, director of sales for Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, was standing in the winner’s circle at Keeneland when the phone began ringing. Suspicions, the first starter for the farm’s sire Corniche, had just won the first race on opening day, and breeders were already angling to get into the stallion for the ongoing breeding season.

“The phone’s ringing already,” O’Connor said. “We couldn’t be happier.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Roll On Big Joe has arguably emerged as the dominant sprinter this meet at Oaklawn Park. As such, the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap would seem to go through him Saturday.

“He’s healthy, happy, and ready to run,” trainer Bob Hess Jr. said.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A Breeders’ Cup Distaff berth is up for grabs Saturday, when champion Nitrogen leads a competitive cast of fillies and mares in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

The race has been the spring objective for the 122-pound highweight. Nitrogen is among nine set to start in the 1 1/16-mile offering that, for the first time, carries the distinction of being a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rick Dutrow ran Sculcos Folly for a claiming price three times so, yes, he is surprised the son of Redesdale is going for his second straight stakes victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Mind Your Biscuits Stakes, one of two New York Stallion Series races that comprise a rare eight-race Saturday card at Aqueduct.

Having failed in my quest to gain the open Kentucky Derby mount on Commandment – I concede that Luis Saez is a stronger finisher than I am – it is back to touting Saturday stakes races. Surprisingly limited menu this week. We’re keeping it to two venues.

Apple Blossom

Zenyatta won two Apple Blossoms. So did the great Argentine import Paseana, who wasn’t as good as the other Ron McAnally-trained, Argentina-bred Apple Blossom winner, Bayakoa. Azeri landed three in a row, 2002-04.

An odd thing happened last year in the Jenny Wiley Stakes: Chad Brown didn’t train the winner.

Brown had won three straight Jenny Wileys, six out of seven, and seven of 10, and in truth, he probably should have won last year. Excellent Truth finished second by a half-length to Choisya, who hampered her in the stretch run.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although Woodbine-based Gail Cox spends most of the winter freshening her stable at the Payson Park training center in Indiantown, Fla., she will on occasion make the 90-minute drive down the turnpike to run one of her horses at Gulfstream Park. On Saturday, Cox will send out Miss Vyvyanne as one of the favorites in the $75,000 Golden Beach overnight handicap.

A field of 11 3-year-olds who last raced at seven different tracks converge in Lexington for the Lexington, a Grade 3, $400,000 dirt race going 1 1/16 miles that could propel horses toward bigger things.