Louisiana Downs will celebrate Mardi Gras on Tuesday with a pair of rich stakes for Quarter Horses.

The races make for one of the biggest programs of the meet.

Toast to Patriot is the one to beat in the $264,876 Mardi Gras Futurity after he dominated during trials for the race Feb. 19. He was making his career debut that afternoon, and romped by 2 3/4 lengths while covering 300-yards in a fastest-qualifying time of 15.62 seconds. Toast to Patriot is one of seven last-out winners in the 10-horse field Tuesday. The Mardi Gras is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kentucky Derby prospects Mucho Macho Man and Rogue Romance, first and third finishers two weeks ago in the Grade 2 Risen Star, turned in easy workouts over their home base at Gulfstream Park on Saturday morning.

Mucho Macho Man looked very strong, cruising a half-mile in 48.58 seconds while going easily from start to finish. He galloped out five-eighths in 1:01.86.

Rogue Romance was also in hand breezing four furlongs in 48.78 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.90 for trainer Ken McPeek.

Suffolk Downs and the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association reached a deal Friday on purse levels and the number of racing days for the upcoming 2011 season, ending a five-week impasse that had cut off incoming simulcast signals from some East Coast tracks.

While Fair Grounds horseplayers have been zigging, Holiday Ballad has been zagging. Sent away in back-to-back races as part of a 6-5 entry with his Louie Roussel stablemate Sicomoro, Holiday Ballad put forth a couple of dull performances. But when Roussel turned him back from two turns to try six furlongs in his most recent race, Holiday Ballad, a single betting interest, charged home second when overlooked at nearly 17-1 in that Feb. 13 sprint.

Oaklawn on Friday announced a second purse increase, with overnight races to be boosted approximately $10,000 a program. The track has also kicked up the value of four of its stakes races. The increase, which comes on the heels of a $10,000 a day boost to overnight purses Feb. 5, is due to strong ontrack handle and increased gaming business, said Oaklawn official David Longinotti.

Be Fair, who was third to Zenyatta in last year’s Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn, was retired last week, said her trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. She is now in Kentucky, with stallion plans pending for the mare who raced for Westrock Stables.

“They’re flirting with about three studs,” Lukas said Friday.

“Her credentials are strong. She’s a half-sister to Macho Again. She’s got a beautiful pedigree, by a young sire, Exchange Rate, that’s getting some prominence. And she’s drop-dead gorgeous.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ricky Tick might have two significant factors working in his favor on Sunday, when he makes his third start of the year in the featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park.

“I’m hoping that’s the case,” said Rick Jackson, who trains Ricky Tick for Jac Mac Stables and Cedar Lakes Stable. “I’ve got my fingers crossed.”

Ricky Tick will be picking up more ground in the first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up that has an optional claiming price of $16,000. He is moving from a mile to 1 1/16 miles, and that should be a benefit, said Jackson.

Hastings Racecourse has lowered its takeout rate from 17.3 percent to 15 percent for win, place, and show wagering for the upcoming meeting, which begins April 16.

The 15 percent takeout also will apply to the pick four and a new pick five wager.

The changes were among several announced this week by management of the Vancouver, British Columbia, racetrack, which will host a 71-day meeting through Oct. 2.

STICKNEY, Ill. – Hawthorne was forced to cancel a racing program scheduled for Tuesday, March 8 because of insufficient entries to fill a program.

Entries for the card were taken Thursday. There were 11 races for the day listed in the condition book, and Hawthorne added another 10 extra races to try and put together a full card, but only 57 horses were entered in the 21 different races. Rather than cobble together a sub-par card, the decision was made to vacate the race date.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Harissa, who has won stakes around one turn and two, will be kept sprinting for the time being, with a mid-term goal being the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs in May, trainer Mike Hushion said Friday.

Harissa recorded her most prestigious win to date last month, capturing the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park by 2 1/4 lengths. She earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.