ARCADIA, Calif .- Great Hot ended a 13-race losing streak with a front-running win in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

The win left trainer A.C. Avila eager to try the 5-year-old mare over an even longer distance, in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on March 16. His enthusiasm was apparent after he described the way that Great Hot returned to the winner’s circle after the Santa Maria, her first stakes win at 1 1/16 miles.

“She can relax,” he said. “When she came back, it was like she had just galloped.”

ALBANY, Calif. -- Jose Valdivia Jr. was quite content to sit back as Manando set a brisk pace in the 32nd running of the  Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

And when the real running began in the 1 1/8-mile race, Dice Flavor made a strong move and outraced Nina's Dragon to the wire in a victory that earned him 10 points in the 36-race Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

ARCADIA, Calif. - Judy In Disguise is unbeaten in two starts in the United States after a gritty win in Saturday’s $81,850 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita.

Ridden by leading rider Rafael Bejarano, Judy In Disguise disputed the pace throughout the stakes over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. She lost the lead in the stretch and fought back to win by a half-length over Doinghardtimeagain.

Hennesey Smash won her sixth consecutive race Saturday at Sunland Park, when she wired the field in the $85,000 Peppers Pride Handicap. She won by 1 1/4 lengths over even-money favorite Rose’s Desert, while it was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third to Playtricks.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -   Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott capped off another big day at Gulfstream Park, completing a sweep of Saturday’s two stakes and registering his third win overall after Amira’s Prince rallied to 3 3/4-length victory over Teaks North in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes.

Earlier in the day, Mott sent out Starformer to an easy win in the Grade 3 The Very One Stakes and Emollient to a game allowance victory in her 3-year-old debut.  John Velazquez, who guided Amira’s Prince to his first stakes win, also won three races on the card.

PHOENIX  – It was no surprise to see owner Rick Wiest and trainer Robertino Diodoro in the winner’s circle at Turf Paradise after Saturday’s $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup. After all, they won it last year with Derive and had that big horse back for a title defense.

But it was a surprise that their “other” horse, the very sharp L. A. Weekend, posted a mild upset in the six-furlong  marquee event for the Turf Paradise meet.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Even though jockey Calvin Borel did not reach 5,000 career victories in his comeback Saturday at Oaklawn Park, the ontrack crowd of 21,292 was still treated to a show. Don’t Tell Sophia, ridden by Robby Albarado, drew out to a 6 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Bayakoa, her second straight blowout stakes win at the meet in a performance that stamps her as a leading local hope for the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 12.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Great Hot is capable of occasional quirky behavior and game performances. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens learned of both in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita.

After Great Hot was what Stevens called “playful” in the post parade, she was all business in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares, the first time that Stevens has ridden the mare. Great Hot led throughout the Santa Maria, winning by a half-length over 11-10 favorite Book Review.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Swift Warrior stalked a soft pace for more than six furlongs, then rallied smartly down the middle of the Tampa Bay turf course to emerge from a four-horse photo with a half-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes.

Eleven months after finishing last in a $15,000 maiden claiming race at Turfway Park, Funnys Approval became a Grade 2 stakes winner Saturday when she recorded a front-running victory in the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at muddy Laurel Park.

 Sent to the front soon after the start by Jose Vargas, Funnys Approval turned back an upper stretch challenge from 6-5 favorite My Wandy’s Girl, holding that rival at bay to the wire to win by three-quarters of a length. Sent off at 21-1, Funnys Approval returned $45.80.