HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– How good a race was Saturday’s fifth event at Gulfstream Park, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs? When the race was over Rick Violette, the trainer of the runner-up Sovereign Default, was just as happy as his colleague Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains the winner, Crossbow.

Crossbow and Sovereign Default dueled from start to finish before Crossbow edged away to a three-quarter-length decision. The victory was the second in a row for Crossbow, who won his maiden four weeks ago in New York.

There’s a no-conditions Louisiana-bred turf allowance race and a second-level optional claiming turf sprint on a thoroughly decent Monday card at Fair Grounds, but this is the season of 3-year-olds, and it will be most interesting to see what unfolds in Monday’s third race.

Fair Grounds, continuing a recent trend, generously allowed this maiden special weight dirt route onto the card with just six entrants, and one of them is a promising colt named Sour.

ARCADIA, Calif. - St Trinians, who gave Zenyatta a scare last June in the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, is nearing a return to racing in the $150,000 Santa Maria Stakes on Feb. 12, a race she won in 2010.

St Trinians has been working steadily at Hollywood Park, including six furlongs in 1:13 last Thursday.

“I’m very pleased with her works,” trainer Mike Mitchell said. “She’s had a nice break.”

The Santa Maria is run over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

No Advantage and Peaceful Bliss, a pair of older males who have combined for 13 victories at Charles Town, are among five 2010 stakes winners entered in Tuesday night’s $35,000 Winter Handicap, an overnight stakes that will be contested at seven furlongs.

Both the 6-year-old No Advantage and the 7-year-old Peaceful Bliss warmed up when the weather turned colder in the waning months of 2010.

Paydirt didn’t appear to be much of a prospect after he lost the first seven races of his career, even when he was dropped to near the bottom level for maiden claimers. But trainer Carlos Guerrero saw a few things he liked and was willing to risk $12,500 to claim Paydirt on behalf on one of his primary clients, Joey P Stables, last August.

In six starts since coming to Guerrero’s high-percentage stable, Paydirt has been solid, winning four times, including three consecutive starter allowance races between October and January.

New England's horsemen pulled their consent Friday for Suffolk Downs to simulcast races from Aqueduct after negotiations for 2011 purse levels fell apart.

With racing in the region falling on hard times after casino legislation failed to materialize last summer, the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the East Boston track reached an impasse after Suffolk officials proposed purses of just $75,000 per day over a state-mandated 100-day season. The horsemen also rejected a proposal for more money per day but over fewer dates.

ARCADIA, Calif. –  Santa Anita continues to conduct maintenance on its main track, adding sand after racing last Sunday and again Thursday afternoon.

Track officials are considering closing the main track Tuesday for a day of maintenance to mix material on the outside and inside of the surface and improve the blend of sand, clay, and silt.

As of midday Friday, there were no definitive plans to close the track for training on Tuesday, according to a track spokesman.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert may have two runners for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 5 in Thursday winners Mythical Power and Game On Dude.

Both horses returned from layoffs to win optional claimers. Mythical Power won a seven-furlong race by 1 1/4 lengths in a quick 1:20.12, his first start since October. Last spring, Mythical Power won the Grade 3 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Yankee Passion is likely headed to the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park following his flashy seasonal debut win at the track on Thursday. He won a six-furlong allowance in a rapid 1:10.88 in his first start since August, and for the effort he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to point him to the Southwest,” said Larry Jones, who trains Yankee Passion.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze, who has not ridden since July after suffering facial injuries in an accident at Del Mar, is hoping to return to riding in late February or early March after undergoing surgery to improve his vision on Jan. 19.

Baze said Thursday that the recent surgery inserted a plate to an area near the orbital bone of his right eye, which has been troubled by double vision when he looks up.