Jockey Alberto Pusac on Friday was fined $500 and suspended three racing days for easing up on his mount in mid-stretch of the fourth race Wednesday at Beulah Park. Pusac had a five-length lead aboard Sterling Emblem in upper stretch of the $2,500 claiming race but raised up in the saddle nearing the sixteenth pole and ended up finishing third at 23-1.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The last time that Drill raced around one turn he won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September.

That was his last win, followed by four losses in major stakes. Drill was second in the Norfolk Stakes, 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, seventh in the Delta Downs Jackpot, and ninth in the Cash Call Futurity in the final three months of 2011.

For his first start of 2012, Drill reverts to a one-turn race, in the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs, Sunday’s fourth race at Santa Anita.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Frolic’s Revenge and Ready Signal crossed the wire first and second, respectively, in the Ginger Brew Stakes here Dec. 24, but it is third-place finisher Ann of the Dance who may get the most play when the trio hooks up again at a mile in Sunday’s $100,000 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Terri Pompay had plenty reason to be smiling Friday morning at Gulfstream Park. Not only did her steadily improving sprinter Zero Rate Policy zip a half-mile in 46.61 seconds under jockey Paco Lopez shortly after the renovation break, but she’s also got her top 3-year-old prospect Currency Swap back in the barn and out on the track preparing for what she hopes will be a run along the Triple Crown trail.

Jockey Eddie Castro, who sustained a hairline fracture of his back in a spill at Belmont on Oct. 15, received clearance from doctors on Friday to begin getting on horses, his agent, Mike Gonzalez, said.

Castro hopes to begin getting on horses in the morning at Palm Meadows in Florida by the middle of next week and is targeting the first week in February as his return to the saddle.

Castro, the sixth-leading rider on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2011 with 111 winners, will ride at Aqueduct when he does return.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The retirement of two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year Haynesfield leaves a void in the older state-bred division. It’s a void newly-turned 4-year-olds Beautyinthepulpit and Socialsaul would like to fill beginning with Sunday’s $75,000 Haynesfield Stakes at Aqueduct.

Socialsaul, winner of the New York Derby at 3, is the more accomplished of the two, but Beautyinthepulpit may have the most upside and figures to offer the bigger price in Sunday’s race, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the inner track.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Is a future star hiding in the La Canada Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita? Or is the Grade 2 merely a gloried allowance?

An evenly matched field entered the $150,000 stake for 4-year-old fillies, and kitchen-table critics could knock any in 1 1/16-mile race on Santa Anita’s speed-friendly dirt oval.

Angry Bird, who was a $62,500 claim, and Affable Amy, a $2,500 yearling purchase at auction, appear to be the main players in the $50,000 El Paso Times at Sunland Park on Sunday.

The 6 1/2-furlong race is for 3-year-old fillies.

Angry Bird was claimed out of her second career start, a fourth-place finish in a Del Mar maiden race Sept. 5. She turned up six weeks later at Zia Park and won a maiden special weight from off the pace while making her first start for new connections, Jeffrey and Chris Meyers and trainer Owen Bringhurst.

Here's my race-by-race rundown of Saturday's Guaranteed $100K 50-cent Pick 4 at Fair Grounds. I'm building my wager with TicketMaker, found exclusively on DRF.com.

Here's my race-by-race rundown of Saturday's Pick 4 at Aqueduct. I'm building my wager with TicketMaker, found exclusively on DRF.com.