After combining to win 30 of 54 races run at Aqueduct last week, what will the Ortiz brothers do for an encore? That question will be answered in part Thursday, when apprentice Jose Ortiz rides the entire card and older brother Irad rides the first eight races, capped by a return call on Tug of War, the 8-5 morning-line choice in a first-level allowance that serves as the feature.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cautious bettors can play it safe Thursday at Santa Anita by wagering on Gladding, an honest 6-year-old who is as real as real can get.

“What you see is what you get,” trainer Mike Mitchell said.

That might be good enough. Runner-up 12 days ago in a fast sprint from which he was claimed for $62,500 by Mitchell and owner Jeffrey Sengara, Gladding wheels back as one of the favorites in race 7, a second-level optional claiming mile race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Bill Mott reported that both Flat Out and his recently crowned older female champion Royal Delta remain on target to make their 2013 debuts here at Gulfstream Park next month.

Flat Out will return in the Donn Handicap on Feb. 9. Flat Out captured the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and finished third behind Fort Larned to close out his 2012 campaign in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Royal Delta will likely make her much-anticipated 2013 debut eight days later in the Grade 3 Sabin, the same race she used to begin her championship season a year ago.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jimmy Creed, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, will miss a scheduled start in the $200,000 Strub Stakes on Feb. 2 because of a recent illness.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Tuesday that Jimmy Creed will be pointed to the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs Feb. 23 as a substitute.

Jimmy Creed missed training earlier this month because of an elevated temperature. Mandella had hoped that Jimmy Creed would rebound quick enough to start in the Strub Stakes, but said Tuesday that he was “leaning toward not running.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – What Chee lacks in experience he may well make up for in pure talent when he goes postward among the favorites in Thursday’s $54,500 optional claiming feature carded at a mile at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Take Charge Indy, the reigning Florida Derby champion, gave every indication he will be a force to be reckoned with when he returns to the scene of his finest hour to launch his 2013 campaign in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap after working five furlongs in 1:01.18 at Palm Meadows early Tuesday morning.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap has had its purse restored to the $500,000 level in the most notable change on a spring stakes schedule that otherwise has received a basic status-quo treatment from Churchill Downs racing officials.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Renee’s Titan closed more than five lengths in the final furlong to score an upset win in Monday’s $150,500 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita, denying Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, a victory in her first start of 2013.

Renee’s Titan ($43.80) caught 1-5 Beholder in the final 50 yards to win by three-quarters of a length for her first stakes win. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Renee’s Titan ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.14.

“I knew I had it at the eighth pole,” Baze said.

“I skimmed the rail and lost my stick, but she did it for me.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Jon Court won their second 3-year-old prep in two days on Monday, when Will Take Charge dug in to get past Texas Bling by a neck in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. On Saturday at Fair Grounds, the men teamed to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte with Oxbow.

“It was a big weekend,” said Court.

Private Tale overcame a tardy start before getting a terrific trip under pick-up jockey Sheldon Russell and rallying for a mild upset Monday in the $125,000 Native Dancer Stakes at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

After hopping at the start of the “about” 1 1/16-mile race, Private Tale was never rushed when he was picking off rivals one by one, finally pushing past the front-running favorite, Javerre, to win by three-quarters of a length. He returned $16 after finishing in 1:45.35 over a fast main track.