After a series of near misses against some of the top handicap horses in Northern California, Hudson Landing could well benefit from new surroundings when he makes his next start at Emerald Downs.

Wright said Hudson Landing would compete next at Emerald, though not necessarily June 15 in the one-mile Budweiser Handicap. Wright said he’ll look for a race that can return Hudson Landing to the winner’s circle and help restore his confidence. In the 19 months since he captured the Grade 3 All American on the Tapeta at Golden Gate, Hudson Landing has lost 12 consecutive starts.

Trainer Gary Contessa said he will scratch Uncle Sigh from Saturday’s Mike Lee Stakes to await one of several more-lucrative spots against open company on the schedule in the weeks ahead. Uncle Sigh, idle since finishing 14th after setting the early pace in the Kentucky Derby, would have been the odds-on favorite to defeat six other New York-breds in the seven-furlong Mike Lee.

Jockey Victor Espinoza, who did a superlative job guiding California Chrome to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, will remain in New York and accept mounts throughout the week, according to his agent, Bryan Beach. Espinoza flew Friday to New York and was scheduled to breeze California Chrome four furlongs Saturday morning.

He is named to ride Miz Owell for trainer Mike Maker later that afternoon in the Kingston Stakes, two horses on Sunday’s card, and has taken calls later in the week, including Ever Rider in Friday’s Brooklyn.

Discreet Marq, who has a win and three seconds in four Grade 1 attempts, worked five furlongs in 1:00.62 over Belmont’s main track Friday morning in preparation for the Grade 1, $750,000 Just a Game Stakes here next Saturday.

Discreet Marq won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last July but has since finished second in the Garden City, Matriarch, and, in her first start this year, the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Beholder, the 3-year-old champion filly of 2013, arrived in New York Thursday from Southern California for her showdown with divisional rivals Princess of Sylmar and Close Hatches in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park.

Game On Dude moved closer to a start in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 29 with a five-furlong workout in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita on Thursday.

Game On Dude worked in company with a stablemate, starting two lengths behind. He moved alongside the stablemate on the outside on the turn and finished in front under jockey Martin Garcia. The final time equaled the 12th fastest of 39 recorded works at the distance.

AUBURN, Wash. – It’s almost as if City by the Bay took a wrong turn on a California freeway and ended up hundreds of miles from home in unfamiliar surroundings. An undefeated stakes winner in her home state but with no connections to the Pacific Northwest, City by the Bay will make her 2014 debut Sunday at Emerald Downs, as a prohibitive favorite in the $50,000 Seattle Handicap for 3-year-old fillies.

Sahara Sky, the winner of the 2013 Metropolitan Handicap, worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Friday, leaving co-owner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to make a decision this weekend on the next start for the multiple stakes winner.

Hollendorfer said he is deciding between the $1.25 million Met Mile at Belmont Park next Saturday, or waiting for the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on June 28.

“I’m still on the fence,” Hollendorfer said. “I don’t have an answer yet.”

Fiftyshadesofgold will attempt to be the first Texas-bred to win a Grade 1 race in more than a decade on Saturday, when she runs in the $750,000 Acorn at Belmont Park. She will be one of the top choices in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies on the strength of her win in the Grade 3 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Move over, California Chrome. There is another Lucky Pulpit colt in trainer Art Sherman’s stable attracting attention.

Kristi’s Copilot, a 2-year-old California-bred owned by breeder David LaCroix, is being pointed for the $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile at 5 1/2 furlongs on June 22 after winning his debut on May 16.

Kristi’s Copilot won a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.84 seconds under Aaron Gryder, leaving Sherman impressed with the effort.