HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A total of 23 grass specialists were nominated for the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf here next Saturday, with seven coming from Mike Maker’s barn.

Maker’s strong contingent includes Shining Copper, last year’s runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Turf, and Grade 1 winner Bigger Picture, along with Galton, Granny’s Kitten, Oscar Nominated, Sir Dudley Digges, and Tizzarunner. Among the other big names on the list are All Included, Blacktype, Forge, Heart to Heart, March, and Money Multiplier.

Dream Dancing eyes Suwannee River

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mind Your Biscuits gave every indication he’s close to his 2018 debut after working five furlongs in 1:00 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.40 with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard Friday at Palm Meadows.

“He went out seven furlongs in 1:14.80 and a mile in 1:37 according to the track clocker,” trainer Chad Summers said a short while later.

Asked what Ortiz told him after the breeze, Summers simply said, “He’s ready.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The theory that horses who like synthetic surfaces will also relish the grass will be put to the test here Sunday when defending Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena makes her turf debut under third-level allowance and optional-claiming conditions for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolt d’Oro, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2017, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday, his second workout of the year.

Bolt d’Oro is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 10, a key prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 7. On Friday, Bolt d’Oro was exercised by jockey Agapito Delgadillo, who works for owner and trainer Mick Ruis in the mornings. Bolt d’Oro worked alone and continued the exercise beyond a half-mile.

Laurel Park canceled its Friday card after race 3 due to windy conditions.

At the time of the cancellation, the temperature was 28 degrees with a real-feel temperature of 11 degrees, according to AccuWeather. But cold was not the reason for the cancellation, according to Sal Sinatra, president of the Maryland Jockey Club.

"If there was no wind we would have kept running," he said. "We've had a few wind gusts of more than 40 miles per hour. It's just too dangerous."

ARCADIA, Calif. – The late scratches of two horses in the last week because of incorrect administration of Lasix by third-party veterinarians has led Santa Anita officials to review policies enacted in late December regarding the anti-bleeder medication.

On Jan. 28, Pali High was withdrawn from a maiden race after the colt was given Lasix in error. When entries were taken Jan. 25, Pali High was the only horse among 14 in the field not scheduled to receive Lasix.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Midnight Bisou, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes last month, is not part of Sunday’s Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by design, trainer Bill Spawr said on Friday.

If plans go as expected, Midnight Bisou will be joining the division’s leading races soon. Midnight Bisou worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 on Friday. After the workout, Spawr said Midnight Bisou will be pointed for the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies on March 3.

Glen Murphy, the retired rider who has been representing jockey Jareth Loveberry at Oaklawn, will be embarking on a new career path next week.

Murphy will be serving as a state steward during the Will Rogers Downs meet in Claremore, Okla., which opens in March. Murphy reports to work Feb. 19.

“I went to stewards’ school in California and was the association steward last meet at Arapahoe,” Murphy said. “I really enjoyed it. It’s hard to replace the funnest job in the world, but I enjoyed being a steward.”

Runaway Ghost established himself as the leading local hope for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby last Sunday, when he won the track’s first prep for the race, the Riley Allison Stakes, by 7 3/4 lengths under Tracy Hebert. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 in the one-mile Riley Allison, the first two-turn win of his career.

“We wanted a big finish, and that’s exactly what he gave us,” said trainer Todd Fincher. “That was very encouraging.

Sam Houston handled $2,534,779 from all sources on its 10-race Houston Ladies Classic-Connally Turf Cup program last Sunday, according to figures provided by the track. It was the second-highest handle in the six-year history of the meet’s richest program, behind $2,796,222 in 2017.