HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park’s road to the Arkansas Derby gets serious on Monday with the running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest. Super Ninety Nine has invaded from Southern California for trainer Bob Baffert to lead the 10-horse field. Will Take Charge, Texas Bling and Always in a Tiz are back for a rematch after being separated by a neck in last month’s $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. And then there’s Big Lute, who is making his two-turn debut after winning the first race of his career with a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens worked Called to Serve at Santa Anita on Saturday morning and will have the mount on the improving 4-year-old in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2.

Trained by Nick Canani for Marc Ferrell, Called to Serve worked six furlongs in 1:13.40, a time that equaled the fastest of 13 recorded works at the distance. Canani confirmed that Stevens will ride Called to Serve after the workout.

“What a story that would be if he won the Big Cap,” Canani said.

When trainer Bob Baffert made the decision to leave Brigand on the East Coast for the winter, it was, in large part, with the Grade 3 General George Handicap in mind.

Thus far, everything has gone according to plan for the New York-bred Brigand, who looks to be the horse to catch and beat in Monday’s $250,000 General George at Laurel Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Whether it’s the prospect of taking on the undefeated Violence or just bad timing, it appears a small field will be lining up for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

Violence will be making his first start since rallying to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park. He has been training for his 3-year-old bow with trainer Todd Pletcher at Palm Meadows.

ARCADIA, Calif. – More than a year before she won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint against males last November at Santa Anita, Mizdirection was considered a top prospect as a turf miler.

Mizdirection won a stakes over that distance and surface at Del Mar in 2011, but was so brilliant in turf sprints in 2012 that she rightfully was kept to those races.

The outlook has changed again. Mizdirection will start over a mile on turf in Monday’s $150,000 Buena Vista Stakes, her first attempt at that distance since she won the Sandy Blue Handicap at Del Mar in 2011.

Horses returning from layoffs are often intriguing propositions, especially in stakes races.

Trainer Keith Nations, who has enjoyed great success the past two years here, has two comebackers set for Monday’s six-furlong, $50,000 Albany Stakes at Golden Gate Fields: Bailouttheminister and Hexbreaker.

“Both are working fantastic,” Nations said.

Good sprint form is plentiful among the six fillies and mares entered in Tuesday night’s $35,000 Presidents Day Handicap at Charles Town. Five of horses in the featured eighth race at 4 1/2 furlongs were first or second last time out and the sixth finished third in her most recent race following back-to-back wins.

Two of the last-out winners, Maryland shipper Vow of Honor and Penn National-based Dorothy’s Aurora, could wind up vying for favoritism.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Saginaw, whose 10 victories placed him in a three-way tie for the horse with the most wins in North America in 2012, kicks off his 2013 campaign at Aqueduct in Monday’s $75,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes for New York-bred sprinters.

Saginaw, a 7-year-old gelding by Peruvian, will face four rivals, including stablemate Be Bullish, who won the Hollie Hughes in 2011. Both horses are trained by David Jacobson, but will run uncoupled in the wagering.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta will kick off her 2013 season in the same manner she began her championship run in 2012, in the Grade 3 Sabin on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The presence of the imposing Royal Delta in the $100,000 Sabin limited the field to just five starters, a group that also includes Grade 1 winner Grace Hall.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will be firing from upfront and behind Monday when he sends out Will Take Charge and Channel Isle in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park. Will Take Charge figures to be close to the pace in the 1 1/16-mile race, while Channel Isle will be a late threat.