ARCADIA, Calif. - The presence of California Chrome in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita led to a surge in ontrack attendance, but a less significant increase in handle figures.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, won the San Pasqual in his first start since last March.

Saturday’s program drew 12,528 compared with  5,462 on the corresponding day in 2015 that was plagued by showery conditions. Saturday’s ontrack handle was $1,716,601, a gain of 20 percent over the 2015 figure of $1,421,599.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nyquist, the unbeaten winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last October, worked six furlongs in 1:14 at Santa Anita on Sunday. He is expected to have his 2016 debut in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Feb. 15.

Nyquist was timed in 1:01 for the first five furlongs, according to track clockers.

“The bottom line is this part of the foundation we need to get his campaign going,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Kyriaki may run in Saturday’s $200,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita out of necessity.

“She’s trying to tear the barn down,” trainer Peter Eurton said on Sunday.

Eurton made that statement after Kyriaki worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Sunday morning. He plans to start the 6-year-old Kyriaki this month at Santa Anita and said he is leaning toward the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares in favor of the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on Jan. 23.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Before and after the $200,500 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, California Chrome was the subject of widespread adoration on Saturday.

Fans furiously snapped away with cell phones and cameras in the paddock, and when California Chrome walked on the track for the post parade. The “Chromies” were at again, along with official photographers, when California Chrome walked into the winner’s circle of a race for the first time since November 2014.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Collected and Let’s Meet in Rio, who led a one-two finish for trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, both came out of the race well, Baffert said Sunday morning, with their next starts to be determined.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Steve Beneto, a Northern California businessman, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board for a second four-year term, according to a statement released Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Beneto, 78, was appointed to the racing board in May 2012. A resident of Carmichael, Calif., outside of Sacramento, Beneto is president of Beneto Inc., which specializes in airplane sales and leasing.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Warren’s Veneda, the 2015 Grade 1 winner, worked a half-mile in a quick 46.60 seconds Saturday at Santa Anita for a scheduled start in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes for fillies and mares Jan. 16.

Warren’s Veneda was one of 251 recorded works on the main track. Morning activity was expected to be busy this weekend following disrupted training from Tuesday through Thursday because of a series of rain storms.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The road to the Dubai desert in March for Effinex began at balmy Belmont Park on Saturday.

Effinex breezed an easy three furlongs in 37.94 seconds shortly after 8 a.m., his first workout since winning the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November. It is also his first breeze on the road to the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 26.

Mo Tom, who won the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs last year before finishing third there in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, is the most accomplished of the 15 3-year-olds entered for the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds.

NEW ORLEANS – After straining to get his business going on the Southern California circuit, jockey James Graham decided last week that enough was enough.

“I love California,’’ Graham said by telephone from there Tuesday. “I guess I went out of fashion in California.’’

Last summer, Graham had moved his tack there from the Midwest in hopes of putting down roots for his family and staying year-round. But unfortunately for Graham, the mounts – and victories – became far too few.