The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission on Wednesday assigned Delaware Park 106 racing dates for the 2011 calendar year, serving to break a logjam in negotiations between the track and its horsemen, according to the commission’s executive director.

Delaware and its horsemen had an existing agreement to run 116 live race dates in 2011, but the two groups began negotiating over a new arrangement this winter when the track asked the horsemen for permission to run fewer live racing days in response to horse shortages affecting racetracks nationwide.

A field of eight, led by Hal’s Hope winner Soaring Empire and Sunshine Millions Classic winner Tackleberry, was drawn for Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship.

Soaring Empire drew the rail while Tackleberry will break from post 7 in the seven-furlong Gulfstream Sprint. The remainder of the field consists of the Marty Wolfson-trained duo of Gaucho and Coffee Boy, Mannington, Caixa Eletronica, Mad for Smarty, and Guam Typhoon.

Trainer Kirk Ziadie, who has not raced in south Florida since August 2009, has been given one stall at Gulfstream Park with the hopes of rebuilding his business as the meet progresses.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rumor won so impressively in her debut Dec. 31 that just about every trainer and jockey agent who might have had to run against her in a first-level allowance for fillies has avoided her, the result being that female races for which she was eligible have not been carded. So when a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds came up on Friday at Santa Anita, trainer Richard Mandella decided to stop waiting around.

STICKNEY, Ill. – Almost two feet of snow fell around Chicago last week. The wind chill factor Wednesday morning was about 15-below zero. Believe it or not, it’s time for the Chicago racing season to get underway, with Hawthorne Race Course launching its winter-spring meeting – emphasis, winter – on Friday.

ARCADIA, Calif. -  The Factor, who set a track record for six furlongs of 1:06.98 on Dec. 26, had his first workout since that race at Hollywood Park on Tuesday and is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 20.

Officially, The Factor worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds, but trainer Bob Baffert said the workout was six furlongs in 1:11.80.

“He’ll have one more work on Monday,” Baffert said. “If he works well, he can make” the San Vicente.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ten Devils faces a potentially career-altering race in Saturday’s $250,000 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

After racing on turf in his first three starts, Ten Devils makes his debut on the main track in the Grade 2 Lewis, a key prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

“I’ll see whether he handles it,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He’s got plenty of races underneath him. It’s time to find out.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man, who finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Holy Bull in his 3-year-old debut, could make his next start in the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, trainer Kathy Ritvo said on Wednesday.

Mucho Macho Man, who weakened late after forcing a fast pace in the one-mile Holy Bull, closed out his 2-year-old campaign finishing second behind To Honor and Serve in both the Nashua and Remsen.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - With mounts on Win Willy and Jazzin' Okie in this weekend's stakes at Oaklawn Park, jockey Cliff Berry could be padding his lead in the standings. He was up by four wins heading into Friday's program, which is scheduled to be the first of the race week after a snowstorm forced the cancellation of the card here Thursday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Since upsetting the Grade 3 Queens County Stakes at 19-1 on Dec. 11, More Than a Reason has run into one stakes horse from the Todd Pletcher barn after another. On Friday, when More Than a Reason runs in the $49,000 allowance feature at Aqueduct, he won’t have to face any runners from the Pletcher barn.