OZONE PARK, N.Y.– He grew up in Southern California and has traveled the world, but it was always Chris Griffin’s goal to work in New York.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It was like David slaying Goliath in last Friday’s allowance feature, when Black Belt, a former $16,000 claimer, easily defeated Expressman, undoubtedly valued at seven figures after winning his debut with a 107 Beyer Speed Figure in August.

Churchill Downs Inc. has reached an agreement to purchase a major manufacturer and supplier of the slot-machine-like devices that are in operation at all of its Kentucky facilities and its new properties in Virginia, the company announced on Monday night.

The Quarter Horse jockeys Eduardo Nicasio and Juan Pablo Leon and Thoroughbred jockey Armando Aguilar have been suspended and fined for recent whip violations at Los Alamitos.

Nicasio and Leon were fined $5,000 each and suspended 10 racing days for striking their horses more than twice in succession without giving them a chance to respond and for using the whip more than six times in the $1.85 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Dec. 11.

They were cited for using their whip at least 12 times, according to an official.

Pizza Bianca has been traded from trainer Christophe Clement to Graham Motion, at least for the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Pizza Bianca was under Clement’s direction for her first eight starts, a time in which she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November 2021 and was third in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile against older fillies and mares at the same venue last month.

The connections of Hidden Connection felt the 3-year-old filly would improve going sprint to route while making her second start following a five-month layoff, and they were correct.

Third when beaten three lengths while earning a 76 Beyer Speed Figure in her Nov. 13 sprint comeback at Churchill Downs, Hidden Connection on Dec. 17 at Fair Grounds won a second-level, dirt-route allowance race by seven lengths, jumping up to an 86 Beyer that’s just two points off the career top she hit finishing second behind Echo Zulu in the Fair Grounds Oaks this past March.

Jockey Ramon Vazquez won his fourth riding title of the year, and Milton Pineda won the first training title of his career at the six-day Los Alamitos December meeting that ended on Sunday.

Vazquez, 38, swept the three meetings at Los Alamitos this year, having won the most races at the summer and September meetings. He was also leading rider at the Santa Anita autumn meeting.

At the two-week meeting at Los Alamitos this month, Vazquez won 10 races, four more than Juan Hernandez and apprentice rider Armando Aguilar.

Zozos aced his long-layoff comeback start on Dec. 17 at Fair Grounds by comfortably winning a second-level allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths. Now, it will be back to stakes competition for Zozos, but when and where has yet to be determined, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday morning. 

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There will be a pick six carryover of $84,991 into Saturday’s card at Aqueduct after the wager went unhit for a second consecutive day.

Wins in the sequence by Acalteque ($33.20) and Lord Gatling ($38.20) left very few live tickets heading into Friday’s finale. Honest Banker, a first-time starter by Central Banker trained by Rob Atras, was one of three horses uncovered the pick six. Honest Banker ($33.20), under Jorge Vargas Jr., relished the sloppy track to win the finale and trigger the carryover.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Away from the work tab for a month, Art Collector worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds Friday morning at Payson Park and is back in the mix for the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

Art Collector hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1. He was at one time being considered for the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, but was hampered by a foot problem, trainer Bill Mott said.