With Untapable, Unbridled Forever, and, to a lesser extent, Fiftyshadesofgold, the Fair Grounds Oaks is coming up a very tough race. So tough, in fact, that the connections of Ria Antonia might choose not to be a part of it.

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Tuesday that Ria Antonia, at this point, is more likely to start in the April 5 Santa Anita Oaks than the week before in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Champion Will Take Charge tuned up for the Santa Anita Handicap in the first set of workers Tuesday, breezing a half-mile in 48.20 seconds. Clockers had his final quarter in 23.20 and a five-furlong gallop-out in 1:02.20.

Strong Mandate, his stablemate and the runner-up in the Southwest Stakes, worked in the second set, covering a half-mile in a bullet 48 seconds.

Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton carried Strong Mandate through an opening eighth-mile in 12.20, a first quarter in 24.40, three furlongs in 35.80, and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.40.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – There are a number of ways to judge the health of a meet, from handle to attendance to purses. But claiming activity also offers insight, and just 25 days into the Oaklawn Park meet 187 horses have changed hands for a collective $2,745,000.

That averages out to 7.48 claims per card, for $109,800 in spending between stables on a daily basis. The price of the average claim is $14,679.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Havana, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November, completed his major preparation for his 3-year-old debut Sunday by breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:00.90 at Palm Meadows. Havana will return to the races in the Grade 3, $150,000 Swale Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Havana, a son of Dunkirk, showed good energy on the gallop-out Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita reached the halfway point earlier this month with an increase in all-sources handle, but a decline in average field size that has concerned officials.

The 69-day meeting began Dec. 26 and continues through April 20. Thursday’s program at Santa Anita will be the 40th day of the winter-spring meeting. The track’s spring-summer meeting begins April 25 and runs through June 29, replacing much of the former Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.

Rosalind, a fast-charging third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, will make her 3-year-old debut Thursday when returning in a $48,750 optional-claiming race at 1 1/16 miles. The main event attracted a field of nine 3-year-olds, including Grade 2-placed Bird Maker, stakes winner Naughty Holiday, and the undefeated In Tune.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Honor Code took another step toward his much-anticipated 3-year-old debut when working an easy half-mile in 52.23 seconds Tuesday morning at Gulfstream Park.

Honor Code was pretty much just coasting from the half-mile pole to the wire, posting an early split of 26.17 while well in hand throughout. He then picked up the pace noticeably under some mild coaxing into the turn, completing five-eighths in 1:04.78 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:17.95 and pulling up seven-eighths in 1:31.46.

Thoroughbred breeder and owner Bob Bone is known for his love of horse racing and his aggressive approach to the sport. What might not be as well known is his concern for military veterans, but the two came together at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, when Hotaling Heart won her debut in an $8,000 maiden claimer.

“That’s absolutely one of the most special wins in my career,” Bone said. “It’s going to be my favorite win this year.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There will be a pick six carryover of $105,348 for Friday’s card at Aqueduct after the wager went unhit both Sunday and Monday.

There was a carryover of $33,727 entering Monday’s card, and an additional $125,654 was wagered into the pool. Many tickets were knocked out in the opening leg when the 8-year-old mare Get Gorgeous ($21.80) got up over 31-1 Newyork Conspiracy in race 4.

A New York state legislator said on Monday that he plans to introduce legislation that would require the New York Racing Association to spend $30 million of its casino subsidies annually on improvements to Aqueduct Racetrack.