The work of the day went to Shackleford, who went five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 58.63, breaking off nearly a dozen lengths behind stablemates Cars and Trucks and Fire Attack before easily running down and splitting the pair nearing the wire. Shackleford was set down for the final eighth-mile into the turn, galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.22, and pulled up seven-eighths in 1:25.

Shackleford, runner-up in the Grade 1 Florida Derby here last spring, will make his 2012 debut against a star-studded field of handicap runners in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 11.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. − Apprentice Alex Canchari will never forget this year’s season opener at Oaklawn Park. Not only did he win the first race of the meet in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 18,087, it was also the first win of his career and one of two winners he would have on the Jan. 13 program.

“It was like nothing else,” said Canchari, who turned 18 on Jan. 5. “It’s hard to explain, because when you build something up for so long and try to reach a goal and it finally comes, it’s unbelievable.”

NEW ORLEANS – Considering it immediately follows a six-stakes bonanza, the Fair Grounds Sunday program came up pretty strong – provided one doesn’t harbor an aversion to turf sprints. Three of them form the backbone of a nine-race menu, with “about” 5 1/2-furlong dashes (all for females) carded for maidens and at the first two allowance classes.

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.