ARCADIA, Calif. – Tessuto won his first start at a mile in a maiden race at Santa Anita last Sunday in a manner that left trainer George Papaprodromou considering a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

After finishing third in two maiden races for sprinters earlier this winter, Tessuto closed from third in a field of six to win by 2 1/2 lengths on Sunday. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Tessuto was timed in 1:37.90 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles.

“We may give it a shot,” Papaprodromou said.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Stakes-placed Tapalo is the latest California 3-year-old targeting an out-of-state stakes. Stronghold won in New Mexico, Slider runs Saturday in New York, and now Tapalo is heading to Kentucky for the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 23 at Turfway Park.

John Sadler trains Tapalo, the better-than-looked runner-up in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 10 at Golden Gate Fields. Both tracks, Turfway and Golden Gate, have synthetic surfaces.

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.