Maryland racing pulled off a somewhat amazing triple last Saturday when Laurel Park-based El Areeb scored his fourth consecutive victory in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and Irish War Cry and Tequilita won Grade 2 stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Holy Bull Stakes winner Irish War Cry, trained by Graham Motion, and the Michael Matz-conditioned Tequilita, the $31 winner of the Forward Gal, were based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., during their 2-year-old seasons before being shipped to Florida in late fall.

High Ridge Road has done little wrong since joining Linda Rice’s stable early last year and will shoot for her first graded victory a week from Saturday in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park. The $300,000 Fritchie, a seven-furlong race for fillies and mares, will be the headliner on a six-stakes card that will include the Grade 3, $250,000 General George, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ivan Fallunovalot emerged from his fourth-place finish in the $125,000 King Cotton on Saturday in good order, trainer Tom Howard said Monday. The horse, making his first start since winning the Grade 3 De Francis Memorial Dash on Nov. 19 at Laurel, finished four lengths behind Storm Advisory.

“We just got a little short down in the deep going,” Howard said. “We’ll get ready for the Hot Springs.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Robertino Diodoro has made a splash in sprint stakes at the past few Oaklawn Park meets, but the barn is set for some action in route stakes in the immediate future courtesy of Mishegas and Way Striking.

Excitations got an education as well as a maiden win in his second start last Thursday at Fair Grounds.

A close second to the talented Girvin in his debut, Excitations was rated behind the speed while racing along the rail in a maiden dirt sprint Thursday. He came off the fence before the quarter pole to find running room, inhaled the leaders, and went on to a very easy victory. Excitations ran six furlongs in 1:10.44 and got an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

The 3-year-old colt Girvin got back on track with a good second-place finish Saturday in the Keith Gee Memorial and now is likely for the Risen Star here Feb. 25, trainer Joe Sharp said.

Three wins from three starts, all at two turns, and a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in his stakes debut? Is this 3-year-old on the Triple Crown trail?

He is not.

Cowboy Culture has so far run only on turf, and on turf he will stay for the time being, according to trainer Brad Cox.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Irad Ortiz Jr. is taking his talent to Saudi Arabia. For two days, anyway.

Ortiz will be riding Friday and Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, according to his agent, Steve Rushing. Rushing didn’t have specifics about whom Ortiz would be riding but noted that he would miss cards at Aqueduct on Thursday through Saturday. He is expected to return Sunday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If Withers Stakes winner El Areeb skips the March 4 Gotham here, the race will be in need of a favorite. Mo Town or Practical Joke would fit the bill.

While the Gotham is on the radar for both Mo Town and Practical Joke, their connections are considering other races as well.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The undefeated stakes winners McCraken and Fact Finding and the Grade 2-placed No Dozing are expected to be the top contenders in the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, the highlight of Saturday’s excellent card at Tampa Bay Downs.