SUNLAND PARK, N.M. – Susan Chu first became interested in horses through riding, which she still does, as does her 11-year-old son, Jerry. But a trip to the 2010 Kentucky Derby helped pique her interest in Thoroughbred racing, and she got the support of her husband, Charles, to get involved as more than a spectator.

Chu now has just a handful of runners, but what success she’s had. Last year, she had one of the most promising and precocious 3-year-olds in Super Ninety Nine, who won the Southwest Stakes and then was third in the Santa Anita Derby before he went to the sidelines.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Big Tire is on the verge of the major leap from a maiden race win in early March to a Grade 1 stakes in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

Trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday that Big Tire is deserving of a start in California’s top race for 3-year-olds after a breakthrough win in a one-mile maiden race on March 7, his sixth start.

The jump in class is worth a try, especially considering the distance, Glatt said.

FLORENCE, Ky. – We Miss Artie is scheduled to be flown back to south Florida on Tuesday and will not race again before the May 3 Kentucky Derby, for which the colt earned 50 eligibility points by virtue of his dramatic narrow victory Saturday in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

Owner Ken Ramsey said Sunday morning from Florida that he will let trainer Todd Pletcher decide when to send We Miss Artie back to Kentucky from the Palm Meadows training center to make final preparations for the Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer John Sadler paid tribute to Vagabond Shoes, who was euthanized on Saturday after suffering a cannon bone injury to his left hind leg earlier in the day in the $196,250 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita.

Vagabond Shoes was racing last in the field of five when he was pulled up by jockey Victor Espinoza. A 7-year-old gelding, Vagabond Shoes was euthanized shortly after being taken off the racetrack, according to track stewards.

“We’re shocked right now,” Sadler said. “We’re just stunned. Victor said he heard a pop on the backstretch.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he believes Regent’s House is a stakes filly and will find out sooner than later if he’s right by running her in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle Stakes on April 5.

Regent’s House, a daughter of Street Cry out of the multiple champion mare Ashado, won her debut sprinting over the inner track on March 9 by 6 1/2 lengths. She ran six furlongs in 1:11.58 and earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome resumed workouts on Saturday at Los Alamitos, two weeks after winning his third consecutive stakes in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and two weeks before a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby.

California Chrome worked a solo half-mile in 47.40 seconds under jockey Victor Espinoza, who did not urge California Chrome through the track’s stretch, which is just longer than a quarter-mile.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Owner Ron Sanchez said the April 5 Wood Memorial – not the Florida Derby on Saturday – will be next for Social Inclusion shortly after the undefeated 3-year-old worked a half-mile from the three-eighths pole in 49.11 seconds Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.

With jockey Jose Contreras aboard, Social Inclusion went his opening three furlongs to the wire in 36.36 before continuing on willingly without being asked into the clubhouse turn. He galloped out five-eighths in 1:03.37.

Four potential Florida Derby starters worked at Palm Meadows on Saturday, topped by Cairo Prince, who breezed an easy half-mile in 50.90. He was joined on the Palm Meadows tab by Constitution (four furlongs in 49.30), Spot (bullet half-mile in 47.70) and Matador (five-eighths in 1:01).

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though trainer Tony Dutrow was initially planning to bring Gotham Stakes third-place finisher In Trouble back to New York for the Wood Memorial on April 5, he is now giving serious consideration to running him in next Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Both races are run at 1 1/8 miles, worth $1 million, and offer the same amount of qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (100-40-20-10) to the first four finishers. The only difference is the Wood is a Grade 1, the Louisiana Derby a Grade 2.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Champions Beholder and She’s a Tiger had workouts at Santa Anita on Friday for their 2014 debuts that are expected in the next several weeks.

Beholder, champion 2-year-old filly and 3-year-old filly, worked six furlongs in 1:14.40. Trainer Richard Mandella said the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park on June 7 is an early-season goal, with a possible prep race on turf. He mentioned the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf on April 27 at Santa Anita as a possibility, even though Beholder has never run on turf.