NEW ORLEANS – Running mainly blue-collar horses, trainer Keith Desormeaux is putting together a strong Fair Grounds meet.

Having won with five of his last 10 starters and with 12 wins from 62 starts overall through Thursday, Desormeaux was tied for seventh in the trainer standings.

Sharp claims helped boost his record. He has won with three of four horses in their first starts after being claimed.

“A lot of that is luck,” Desormeaux said. “I’ve claimed a lot of horses like that over the years, and you struggle to win at the price you claimed them for.”

Fairplex Park executives said on Thursday that they are seeking “industry funding” for a proposed expansion of its racetrack at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds as an alternative venue for Thoroughbred racing when Betfair Hollywood Park eventually closes.

The expansion is dependent on financial support from other entities in California horse racing, Fairplex Park said in a statement. Executives with Fairplex Park were actively seeking support for their plan among Southern California horsemen at Santa Anita on Thursday morning.

Patty’s Pride has won stakes in Oklahoma and Louisiana and on Saturday night will attempt to nab her first stakes in her home state of Texas in the $50,000 Tomball at Sam Houston Race Park. She is one of nine set to start in the 1 1/16-mile turf race restricted to fillies and mares bred in Texas.

Patty’s Pride won the first stakes race of her career at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., in the $50,000 Matron in July 2012. Her other stakes win came at Remington Park in Oklahoma City in the $50,000 Ricks Memorial in August 2012.

Pyrite On My Mind will be moving back to the distance of her last win when she takes on eight other fillies and mares in the $50,000 El Diario at Sunland Park on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong race also drew Alydarla, who last year was stakes-placed in New York and Florida, and African Rose, winner of the $55,000 Zia Park Distaff in November.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Saginaw, who won 10 races from 14 starts in 2012, could make his 2013 debut next weekend in either the $75,000 Scythe Stakes on Feb. 17 or the $75,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes for New York-breds on Feb. 18, trainer David Jacobson said Thursday.

“I’m aiming for the Hollie Hughes,” Jacobson said.

Bahamian Squall, who rallied belatedly over a sloppy track to finish a game second in the Sunshine Millions Sprint, will seek to bounce back while returning to open company in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship on Saturday. Bahamian Squall, an easy winner of the restricted Sunshine State Stakes here in December, was shuffled back from tight quarters during the early stages of the Sunshine Sprint before angling wide and finishing full of run to fall less than a length short of catching upset winner Off the Jak.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Last Gunfighter, winner of four consecutive races including the Evening Attire in his last out, worked four furlongs in 48.33 seconds Thursday morning at Belmont Park. He will most likely make his next start in the $75,000 Stymie Stakes on Feb. 16.

Last Gunfighter worked in company with Crushing, who is entered in a second-level allowance race on Sunday. The two were basically head and head for the work. The first quarter went in 24.29 seconds and the second quarter in 24.03. They galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.83.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On paper, Cubicle Queen stepping up into a stakes race from a maiden win would be considered a significant step up in class.

But given the competition Cubicle Queen has already faced, that may not be the case in Saturday’s $75,000 Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct. Only five fillies were entered for the Dearly Precious, scheduled for six furlongs. A winter storm that could bring a foot of snow to New York by Saturday morning, could force this 10-race card to be canceled.

Gary Contessa became the 89th trainer to win at least 2,000 races when Al’s Rosie rallied ($9.70) along the rail to win Thursday’s seventh race at Aqueduct.

Contessa, 55, won his first race at Monmouth Park in 1985 with Legendary Wealth.

“I can’t believe I won 2,000 races,” Contessa said in the winner’s circle standing alongside his wife Jennifer.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Rose to Gold begins her path toward the Kentucky Oaks Saturday, when she launches her 3-year-old season in the $75,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park. The one-mile race, which will end at the sixteenth pole, drew nine including Broken Spell, the runner-up in last year’s Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland; American Sugar, a three-time stakes winner; and Liberty Girl, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Ruler On Ice.