HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man has become one of the elite members of the handicap division following impressive victories here at Gulfstream Park this winter in the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic – in which he defeated the subsequent Santa Anita Handicap winner, Ron the Greek – and the Gulfstream Park Handicap. And as such, a horse other members of the division may look to avoid whenever feasible as the season continues to unfold.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Is it foolish to expect Haimish Hy will win his first start in nearly nine months Sunday at Santa Anita?

Trainer Art Sherman does not expect the veteran to fire his best shot first start back, although April 1 would not be the first occasion he fooled his trainer.

“He likes to go farther, but he’s surprised me a couple times,” Sherman said in reference to a 2010 campaign during which he paid $25.80 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and $53.20 in the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar.

The Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park on Dec. 8 will be worth $500,000-guaranteed, the track announced on Thursday.

In past years, the Starlet, run over 1 1/16 miles, had a purse of $200,000-added. The 2010 race, won by Turbulent Descent, was worth $409,250. The 2011 Starlet, won by Killer Graces, was worth $402,000.

Outstandingly won the richest running of the race, worth $752,500, in 1984.

ARCADIA, Calif. – I’ll Have Another will be one of the most lightly raced horses of 2012 when he starts in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita next Saturday.

By design, I’ll Have Another has run once this year, an upset win at 43-1 in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes here on Feb. 4. Following that race, owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill said the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby would be I’ll Have Another’s next start.

“Knock on wood, we’ll have a fresh, happy sonofagun,” O’Neill said on Friday. “We’re hoping to have a nice run in May, June, and July.”

Twelve Twenty Two’s victory by more than 12 lengths in the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap on the Sunland Derby undercard last Sunday in New Mexico will serve as her springboard into graded competition in Kentucky. Her trainer, Henry Dominguez, said she is under consideration for one of two upcoming stakes at Churchill Downs.

“It might be the Humana Distaff, or that La Troienne the day before,” he said. “We’re still debating which one of those two.”

The seasons change abruptly next week in Lexington, Ky., and it has nothing to do with weather or a vernal equinox. Tens of thousands of fans will shift their focus from basketball to horse racing as the impending spring meet at Keeneland helps to perpetuate their insatiable sporting joneses.

Keeneland will open its 15-day spring meet Friday, April 6, with the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf, then conclude an abbreviated opening weekend the following day with the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes. There will be no racing Sunday, April 8, because of the Easter holiday.

There’s been a lot of talk about sports records and history this weekend in New Orleans, what with the Final Four coming to town and the 99th Louisiana Derby set for closing day at Fair Grounds. But for Evelyn Benoit, the most important event on the sports calendar is the $90,000 Costa Rising Stakes, which will be run a little more than an hour after the Louisiana Derby as the 12th of 14 Sunday races.

With three of the 10 finalists, including fastest qualifier New Look, Dan Francisco will be a busy trainer in the paddock before the $184,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos next Saturday.

The 400-yard derby for 3-year-old colts and geldings is a race that Francisco, 68, expects to win.

“I’m very fortunate to have a good group of 3-year-olds,” he said on Thursday.

The Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby highlights 38 stakes totaling $2.1 million at Northlands Park this year. The 84-day meet runs from May 4 through Oct. 13.

The purse for the 1 3/8-mile Canadian Derby, Aug. 25, was cut by $100,000 from last year, but the overall stakes total is roughly the same as in 2011.

Making up part of the difference is a new race honoring Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Red Smith. The $50,000 Red Smith for 3-year-old fillies is scheduled for July 14.

At age 6, with only 16 starts, Jersey Town clearly has had his share of setbacks. But he has also had a great deal of success, highlighted by his victory in the 2010 Cigar Mile. He has lost all four of his starts since that race, but a brief freshening seems to have served him well as he begins his 2012 campaign in the $70,000 Sir Shackleton Stakes, the second race on the card.