HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park moves into its most important stretch of racing next Saturday, April 4, with the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy Stakes. The feature for 3-year-old fillies opens the annual Racing Festival of the South.

Oaklawn will put on nine major stakes over its final five dates as part of the festival, which was introduced in 1974. There are five graded races during that period, including the only two Grade 1 races held in the Southwest, for total stakes purses of $3.3 million. The series closes with the Arkansas Derby on the final card of the season, April 11.

Turfway’s winter-spring meet wraps up Sunday with a nine-race card to close out a largely successful season. The track raised its modest purses twice, and its Polytrack synthetic surface withstood a harsh winter.

Albin Jimenez dominated the rider standings, entering Friday’s card with 45 winners, well ahead of Rodney Prescott and Perry Ouzts, who were tied in second with 27 winners apiece.

A week removed from opening day Friday, the Keeneland barn area is beginning to fill up, and horses are prepping for upcoming races with breezes over the Keeneland dirt track. Fifty-four horses recorded works Friday at Keeneland, with horses from the stables of trainers Wesley Ward, Ian Wilkes, and Nick Zito particularly active.

Texas Red remains in light training with Keith Desormeaux after a persistent foot issue ended any hope of a start in a Triple Crown race for the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November.

Desormeaux said on Friday that Texas Red is exercising a few days a week, a schedule that could be increased in April. Desormeaux said he does not have any race goals in mind for Texas Red, who has not raced since finishing second in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs Feb. 1.

Trainer Bob Baffert has yet another promising older horse in his stable in Five Palms, who returned from a 15-month layoff to win a second-level optional $62,500 claimer at seven furlongs Thursday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Five Palms won by 4 1/2 lengths over Raised a Secret in 1:22.29, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Five Palms has won 3 of 4 career starts for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.

“Most importantly, he still has it,” Baffert said. “He never needed surgery. He just needed time. So far, he looks good.”

Wise Dan, the 2012 and 2013 Horse of the Year, is making progress after a compression fracture to his right front cannon bone was diagnosed last fall, but he has not yet healed enough to resume jogging or galloping, according to trainer Charlie LoPresti.

An 8-year-old gelding, Wise Dan has been tack walking this month at LoPresti’s Keeneland stable in an effort to stimulate blood flow and promote healing, per the recommendation of veterinarian Larry Bramlage.

Leading rider Rafael Bejarano took off his mounts on Friday after he was unseated in the gallop-out after Thursday’s first race at Santa Anita.

Bejarano’s mount, Believe Too, collapsed after the finish from the effects of a hot day. Bejarano did not ride the remainder of Thursday’s program, citing shoulder and neck pain. Bejarano had intended to ride on Friday, according to his agent Joe Ferrer. By late morning, plans changed and Bejarano was excused from his mounts for the day.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Wild at Heart’s workout at Santa Anita on Friday went a little better than expected.

Officially, the 3-year-old Wild at Heart worked five furlongs in 58 seconds. Trainer Richard Mandella timed her in 1:11 for six furlongs.

“I might have gotten it wrong,” Mandella said.

It does not appear so.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jorge Navarro said Friday he’s been hired by Drawing Away Stable to work as its primary trainer.

Navarro has approximately 70 horses under his care, including the three-time Grade 1 winner Private Zone. He has won 32 races during the 2014-15 Gulfstream Park championship meet, putting him second behind only perennial leader Todd Pletcher.

“The deal we made is that I will not take any horses Drawing Away currently has with other trainers,” said Navarro. “I will claim or buy new horses and build up the stable in that manner.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Longtime south Florida-based trainer Bill White has been elected president of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, replacing incumbent Phil Combest.