Trainer Mark Casse hopes Holding Gold gets invited to the party in Dubai.

Holding Gold’s first start in 2018, the Col. Power Stakes on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds, produced an encouraging half-length win over the up-and-coming Will Call, and if things go as hoped, the race will have served as a prep for the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup card March 31.

The Al Quoz is an invitational, and Casse hopes Holding Gold, owned by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, is on the Dubai Racing Club’s list of invitees.

The five-week break between the Rachel Alexandra Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks is long enough that horses can start in both races without fear of a strong showing in the first leading to regression in the second.

Nonetheless, Monomoy Girl, who won the Grade 2, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes last Saturday at Fair Grounds, looking like a major Kentucky Oaks player in a division lacking standouts, is likely to pass on the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 24 in favor of the Ashland Stakes on April 7 at Keeneland.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine has announced its 2018 stakes schedule, comprising 96 races, including the 159th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate on the blockbuster June 30 card.

Other highlights of the 133-day meet will be the Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 15; the Grade 1, $800,000 Canadian International on Oct. 13; the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on June 9; and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, on Aug. 18.

ARCADIA, Calif. – As training hours wound down Sunday morning at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert turned to a few visitors and said, “I’ve got big plans for that colt this afternoon.”

A few hours later, Justify turned in the most impressive debut effort among 3-year-olds this year, crushing maidens while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 104, a performance strong enough to put him into this week’s Derby Watch top 20.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Carlo Vaccarezza is eternally thankful that his two sons, Nick and Mike, escaped the wrath of a deranged gunman last week when 17 of their schoolmates were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. That’s a major reason why Vaccarezza is reaching into his own pocket to host a major fundraiser Sunday at the Boca Raton, Fla., restaurant he co-owns, Frank and Dino’s.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although he’s won three of the last five renewals of the Grade 1 Florida Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher has won the primary prep for the race, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, just once since 2010. That victory came three years ago with Itsaknockout following the stewards’ disqualification of Upstart, who had crossed the wire first.

WHO’S HOT

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- My Boy Jack’s long range target is established – the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May.

The path he will take get there is to be determined, trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Tuesday, a day after the horse won the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. My Boy Jack earned 10 eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby for his4 1/2-length victory, giving him a total of 12.  

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is coming off a big weekend on the Kentucky Derby trail, sending out Bravazo to win the Grade 2 Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds and saddling Sporting Chance to a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Combatant has been knocking on the door in Kentucky Derby points races since December, and he will get a shot at another such stakes next month at Oaklawn Park, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

Combatant was second in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest at the track Monday, the third straight points race in which he has been the runner-up. He also was second in both the $400,000 Springboard Mile in December at Remington Park and the $150,000 Smarty Jones in January at Oaklawn.