HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It will be David against Goliath when the former $5,000 claimer First Growth takes on world-class sprinter X Y Jet in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Stanley Gold stepped things up with his star 2-year-old Blonde Bomber, sending the third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies out to work six furlongs in 1:13.46 with regular exercise rider Jocelyn Kenny aboard after the renovation break on Wednesday at Gulfsteam Park.

Hall of Fame trainer LeRoy Jolley, who twice won the Kentucky Derby and played a role in one of the most famous match races in Thoroughbred history, died Monday at Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y., from lung cancer. He was 80.

Born in Hot Springs, Ark., Jolley was in racing virtually his entire life. He grew up mostly in Florida as the son of highly successful trainer Moody Jolley. “All I ever wanted to do was train horses,” Jolley said in an Aug. 1975 article in People magazine.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes will have a distinct East Coast-Midwest flavor when it is run Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, opening day of the California winter racing season.

Favorable Outcome from New York, C Z Rocket from Kentucky, and Game Over from Florida are among the leading contenders.

Favorable Outcome, a Grade 2 winner at the seven-furlong distance of the Malibu, arrived at Santa Anita this week and could start favored following a second-level allowance win at Aqueduct.

Racing history has taken note of what Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez did earlier this year when he commuted from Gulfstream to Tampa for just one mount. The special trip was to ride Always Dreaming, who won a Jan. 25 maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths en route to becoming a Kentucky Derby winner for trainer Todd Pletcher and an ownership group that included the St. Elias Stable of Vinnie Viola.

Tricks to Doo still hasn’t raced beyond six furlongs, but given the way he drew away to victory last Saturday in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Arnaud Delacour can’t help but be enthused about the colt’s future.

Tricks to Doo earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for finishing six furlongs in 1:09.58 in his third start, which followed an Oct. 27 maiden romp at Laurel Park. He won the $50,000 Inaugural by 7 1/4 lengths as a 2-5 favorite.

Collected, who will have Mike Smith replacing Martin Garcia, is not the only San Antonio probable that will have a new rider. Javier Castellano picks up the mount on Accelerate, whose regular rider Victor Espinoza is committed to Prime Attraction. Accelerate worked six furlongs in 1:14.40 on Tuesday at Santa Anita.

Paradise Woods and Unique Bella have midweek workouts scheduled at Santa Anita as they prepare to meet for the first time in the Grade 1, seven-furlong La Brea. Potential rivals in the $300,000 race for 3-year-old fillies include Princess Karen, Miss Sunset, Mopotism, Just a Little Hope, Bernina Star, and Marley’s Freedom.

Union Strike, 2016 winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, was nominated to the La Brea, but owner-trainer Mick Ruis said she will return Jan. 15 in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Two key elements are conspicuously absent from the list of probable starters for the Grade 1, seven-furlong Malibu Stakes – a clear favorite and a definite pacesetter.

The Malibu is one of four stakes Dec. 26, opening day at Santa Anita. Collected is likely to be favored in the Grade 2 San Antonio; Unique Bella and Paradise Woods top the Grade 1 La Brea, and Big Score is early favorite in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A solid seven-furlong workout by Collected on Tuesday morning at Santa Anita solidifies the Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up as the early favorite for the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26, opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet.

Mike Smith will ride Collected for the first time in the $300,000 San Antonio. He replaces Martin Garcia, who has relocated to New York.