ARCADIA, Calif. – Encoder, a two-time stakes winner who has raced only on turf, could switch to a stakes on the main track as an experiment later this winter.

Trainer John Sadler said Wednesday that the timing of the turf stakes for 3-year-olds early in the year at Santa Anita makes a start on dirt a possibility.

“We might try him on it,” Sadler said. “This would be the time to try it.”

Encoder won the Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf Dec. 29, ending a three-race losing streak dating to the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 1.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Independence Hall will head to Florida next week with an undefeated record but still some things to work on and prove before being considered a legitimate contender for the May 2 Kentucky Derby.

Independence Hall won Wednesday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes by four lengths, overcoming some pre-race misbehavior and a slow break from the gate to dominate a modest field of horses. His three wins – including the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes by 12 1/4 lengths on Nov. 3 – have come in races run around one turn.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Jonathan Thomas has left only six horses in New York for the winter, but there are definitely some runners in the group.

On Tuesday, Patagonia ran down heavily favored Communicator to win a nine-furlong, first-level allowance race by a neck. It was the colt’s first start since he was purchased by Thomas on behalf of Ralph and Lauren Evans for $150,000 out of the Keeneland November sale. He had previously been trained by Todd Pletcher for WinStar Farm.

ARCADIA, Calif. – George Herman Ruth, a California-bred colt by Grazen, is the latest prospect owned by prominent breeder Nick Alexander to be named after a famous baseball player.

The colt, who starts in Friday’s seventh race at Santa Anita, has ability. He needs to be good to carry the formal name of the legendary Babe Ruth.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2019 stakes winners Cleopatra’s Strike and Majestic Eagle are among seven probable starters in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Cleopatra’s Strike won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles here on Sept. 29, but was fourth by a length in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Dec. 1. Majestic Eagle won the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile here in June, but is winless in three subsequent starts.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sir Winston won’t be pointed for the Pegasus World Cup but instead will run the same day in the $100,000 Jazil at Aqueduct with the goal of possibly racing afterward in the March 28 Dubai World Cup, said trainer Mark Casse.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Omaha Beach arrived Tuesday night at Gulfstream Park following a cross-country flight from California and is scheduled to resume serious training in the coming days as the likely favorite here Jan. 25 in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The final day of 2019 belonged to Jose Lezcano. The year belonged to Manny Franco.

Franco repeated as the leading rider on the New York Racing Association circuit with 212 wins in 2019, four more than Lezcano, who ended the year by winning four races on Tuesday’s eight-race Aqueduct program. Junior Alvarado (161), Irad Ortiz Jr. (152) and Jose Ortiz (137) completed the top five among riders in wins on this circuit, which includes Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. Franco was also the leading rider in purse money won with $14,674,143.

Venetian Harbor won her main-track debut in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on Sunday in the manner of a filly with massive potential.

A 3-year-old in 2020, Venetian Harbor led throughout the race at 6 1/2 furlongs, drawing away to prevail by 10 3/4 lengths under jockey Joel Rosario. Venetian Harbor was timed in 1:15.60, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

Sunday’s race was the second start for Venetian Harbor, preceded by a close second in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf on Nov. 15 at Del Mar.