ARCADIA, Calif. – When he gets into the starting gate, Slim Shadey will look to back out, stir uncomfortably, or even sit down. It took Gary Stevens to make the real Slim Shadey stand up.

Stevens was aboard Slim Shadey for the first time last out in the San Marcos Stakes, and they took their 11 rivals on a merry chase over the 1 1/4 miles. On Saturday at Santa Anita, they will try to stretch out to 1 1/2 miles in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Luis Rey Stakes, which drew eight other long-distance grass runners.

ARCADIA, Calif. – She ran the best race of her life when she was finally moved to the dirt last time, and though favoritism in the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita could fall any number of ways, when you get right down to it, who doesn’t like More Chocolate?

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s bevy of talented 3-year-olds isn’t restricted to the male division.

Already loaded with stakes-winning 3-year-old fillies Dreaming of Julia, Unlimited Budget, and Kauai Katie, Pletcher may have another fleet filly in Highestmaintenance, who makes her stakes debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada at Aqueduct.

The Cicada, a six-furlong race which lost its Grade 3 status from a year ago, drew a field of seven, though trainer Tony Dutrow said Thursday that Disco Barbie is unlikely to run after having developed an abscess under her chin.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Super Ninety Nine has been unbeatable since moving to two turns, and his trainer, Bob Baffert, has been nearly as effective with his starters at Oaklawn Park. On Saturday, Super Ninety Nine will be heavily favored to give Baffert his fourth consecutive win in the Rebel.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Always in a Tiz, who had been at Oaklawn preparing for the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel, did not enter Saturday’s race because he was not training to the satisfaction of his connections, said Anthony Bonomo Jr., general manager for the horse’s owners, MeB Racing Stables and Brooklyn Boyz Stables.

PHOENIX – Saturday’s $35,000 Tempe Handicap at a mile on the grass at Turf Paradise may reveal a leader among the 3-year-old males in that division. The $35,000 Scottsdale Handicap, also at a mile on grass Saturday, will showcase the undisputed leader among 3-year-old turf fillies.

The Tempe (race 5) has a field of 10, and the Scottsdale (race 8) drew 12.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – My Pal Chrisy raced against Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta in the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes at Gulfstream Park in her last start. She has an easier assignment Saturday when she faces 10 filly and mare rivals in the $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Two extremely sharp challengers pose a threat to Eighttofasttocatch in his bid for a three-peat Saturday in the $75,000 Harrison Johnson Memorial Stakes at Laurel Park.

Koh I Noor, a winner of four straight races by a combined 22 lengths, steps up to face stakes company and attempts two turns for the first time. Javerre, winner of last month’s Grade 3 General George Handicap, makes just his second start around two turns while stretching out from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

Spice Swirl returns as the defending champion as a field of seven older Nebraska-bred fillies and mares meet going six furlongs in the $25,000 Orphan Kist Stakes on Saturday at Fonner Park.

Garrett Gomez will replace Julien Leparoux aboard Flashback for his next start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday morning at Santa Anita.

“It’s a tough decision, a very difficult decision,” Baffert said of replacing Leparoux, who had been aboard Flashback for all three of his previous starts.