The multiple graded stakes-winning 4-year-old filly Vahva is back on a steady work pattern at Fair Grounds after getting some winter down time at the track.

Vahva last raced Oct. 21 at Keeneland, where she won the Grade 2 Raven Run by a half-length over the high-quality Alva Starr. Vahva’s connections wanted to send her to California for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes, but suitable transport could not be arranged. Trainer Cherie DeVaux at one point targeted the Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream Park, but instead freshened up Vahva for a spring and summer campaign.

Intricate came out of her second-place finish Feb. 17 in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in good shape and remains on track to make her next start March 23 in the Fair Grounds Oaks, trainer Brendan Walsh said Sunday.

Walsh hopes to get Intricate to the Kentucky Oaks, which he won last year with Pretty Mischievous. Champion 3-year-old filly of 2023, Pretty Mischievous had her first work as a 4-year-old last week in Florida.

The connections of the exciting 3-year-old gelding Doncho evidently have dutifully been vaccinated against Derby Fever.

Doncho began his career Dec. 30 at Fair Grounds with a five-length maiden win over six furlongs that yielded a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. He returned Feb. 13 in a first-level allowance race over the same distance and won by 4 1/2 lengths with another 94 Beyer. Doncho’s trainer, Michelle Lovell, said the plan is to stretch Doncho out in distance, but only to seven furlongs in the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes April 5 at Keeneland.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Southern California trainer Dan Blacker began a 90-day suspension on Monday for 527 incidents in which horses in his care did not undergo pre-workout veterinary exams for an 18-month period ending in July 2023.

During the suspension, Blacker’s stable will be under the direction of his assistant, Juan Landeros.

The suspension runs through May 25 and includes a $15,000 fine, one of the more severe penalties issued by California stewards in recent years.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The infield training track at Santa Anita is expected to open in the first week of March, with a few maintenance tasks remaining to be completed on the new synthetic surface, track general manager Nate Newby said over the weekend.

Newby said the material has been installed with the primary objective in coming days focused on grooming the surface for everyday use. The course closed in November, after the track’s fall meeting, and was scheduled to reopen in mid-January.

ARCADIA, Calif. – On the turn of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, O’Connor gave his backers a thrill when he briefly moved into third behind Hoist the Gold and eventual winner National Treasure.

It was as close as O’Connor would get to winning the $3 million race. He faded to finish fifth, beaten 12 lengths.

The loss has not deterred trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s belief that O’Connor can win a top-rated race. On Saturday, O’Connor will have his West Coast debut in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A pair of potential candidates for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, Real Macho and Victory Avenue, got in their final major preps at Gulfstream Park on Friday morning.

The Rohan Crichton-trained Real Macho, who upset the odds-on Born Noble in a one-mile allowance race to kick off his 3-year-old season, open-galloped to the half mile pole before picking up the pace and ultimately completing his next seven furlongs in 1:28.68 seconds, the final three-eighths from the wire around the clubhouse turn, when sharply roused, in 38.20.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While trainer Bill Mott has some big shoes to fill in his barn this season with the retirement of Cody’s Wish and Elite Power, there is still plenty for the Hall of Fame horseman to smile at when looking down his shed row each morning at Payson Park. Not the least of that group is the reigning 2-year-old filly champion Just F Y I, who is slated to launch her 3-year-old campaign here next Saturday in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

Jockey Ramon Vazquez, who is riding this winter at Oaklawn Park, is planning a move to New York this spring, according to his agent Bill Castle.

Vazquez has spent the last few years riding in Southern California where he was the leading rider at the 2022 Santa Anita fall meet. In 2023, he won his first Grade 1 stakes when he guided Practical Move to a win in the Santa Anita Derby.

Vazquez has won or shared five riding titles at Los Alamitos.

Entering Friday’s action, Vazquez was tied for sixth in the Oaklawn standings with 15 wins from 144 mounts.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jody’s Pride, runner-up to Just F Y I in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, will make her 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Busher Stakes in March at Aqueduct, her connections confirmed.

Jody’s Pride, trained by Jorge Abreu, was in Florida with the idea of returning in the Grade 2, $200,000 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on the same day as the Busher. Her connections called an audible, however, and shipped her to New York last Monday. She was scheduled to have a workout over the weekend at Belmont Park.