Al Stall Jr. was expecting to have a fairly quiet Christmas with his family in his native New Orleans, but the excitement quotient got turned up a few notches Thursday when he sent out a promising 2-year-old named Unknown Road to a rousing victory at Fair Grounds.

Unknown Road, making his second career start, took what was touted beforehand as a very deep six-furlong maiden race and quickly turned it into a one-sided affair, leading throughout to prevail by 11 3/4 lengths and earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Samraat, dominant winner of Wednesday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct, will likely make his next start against open company, but trainer Rick Violette isn’t sure exactly when and where that will happen.

The Malibu is one of three stakes on Santa Anita’s opening-day program, joined by the $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs and the $200,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes over a mile on turf for 3-year-olds.

Trainer Bob Baffert could have three runners in the Grade 1 Malibu – Flashback, Shakin It Up, and Zee Bros.

Flashback was second in the Santa Anita Derby in April and second to the Hollendorfer-trained Zeewat in the Damascus Stakes on Nov. 2. Zeewat is a leading contender for the Malibu.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer may set an unbreakable record at Betfair Hollywood Park this weekend.

Going into Saturday’s program, Hollendorfer is tied with the late Charles Whittingham for most stakes wins at a Hollywood Park autumn meeting, with six. Saturday, Hollendorfer starts Swiss Lake Yodeler in the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes. Sunday, he will run Pray Hard, and perhaps Life is a Joy, in the $200,000 King Glorious Stakes.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Marty Wolfson sent out one of his top filly and mare sprinters, My Pal Chrisy, to breeze an easy half-mile in 49.65 seconds here early Wednesday morning. The work was the first for My Pal Chrisy since her third-place finish in the Grade 2 Go for Wand at Aqueduct on Nov. 29. My Pal Chrisy had won all three of her starts, all stakes, since being purchased privately by Farnsworth Stables and turned over to Wolfson this summer.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Can lightning strike again here this season for Shug McGaughey?

A year ago, McGaughey spent a perfect winter in south Florida with Orb, who won all three of his starts at Gulfstream Park, including both the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby as stepping-stones to his victory in the 2013 Kentucky Derby. He’ll try to duplicate the feat again this winter with his top 3-year-old prospect Honor Code.

There is an agreement in place to sell majority interest in Louies Flower, winner of the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Sunday, to James Covello, trainer Bret Calhoun said Wednesday. The deal is pending a physical and veterinary inspection, and the contract is expected to be completed over the weekend, according to Calhoun.