WHO'S HOT

Bill White

After three weeks without being able to run a horse because of the recent quarantine, Calder's perennial training champion came out firing once he got back into action Dec. 21. Despite missing nearly 30 percent of the 10-week Tropical meet, White is still in the hunt for another title after sending out five winners in as many programs since all restrictions were lifted from his 42-horse stable.

Antonio Gallardo

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There aren't many chinks in the Todd Pletcher armor. Be it young or old, male or female, turf or dirt, short or long, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer usually has a horse for the category.

It has been a while since trainer John Parisella has had the luxury of having to decide in which stakes races to run his young horses. But in the first two weekends of 2010, Parisella plans to have runners in both the Ruthless and Busanda stakes, New York's first two stakes of the year for 3-year-old fillies.

Parisella will run Wild News in Sunday's $65,000 Ruthless at six furlongs, and on Jan. 9 he will start She'll Be Doggone in the $65,000 Busanda at a mile and 70 yards,

WHO'S HOT

Mike Miceli

Some folks are referring to Miceli as "The Ladies Man," after the jockey-turned-trainer sent out three winning fillies from his first five starters on the inner track, in addition to another at the Fair Grounds.

Horses will be running for less money when the New Year begins Friday. The New York Racing Association instituted a purse cut that averages out to 7 percent. Overnight stakes that were worth $65,000 will now be worth $60,000. The purses of most other races were cut from $1,000 to $3,000.

According to P.J. Campo, NYRA's director of racing, NYRA's handle for the year was down approximately 12 percent, necessitating the purse cut.

"There was no way we could maintain the purses at that level,'' Campo said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Buddy's Saint got a lot of attention for his 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes here at Aqueduct in November, but little was made of the effort turned by runner-up Peppi Knows.

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

The "Chalk of the Week" award is shared by Sir Beaufort winner The Usual Q.T. ($2.80) and maiden-claiming winner Bullfighter ($2.60). Another perfect trip by The Usual Q.T. resulted in his sixth straight, an easy victory Dec. 26 at a mile on turf. Jim Cassidy trains The Usual Q.T., whose tactical speed and finish makes him a top contender - possibly the favorite - in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf on Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap is intended to be the showcase race for older horses at the prestigious Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. It's a Grade 1 run over 1 1/4 miles and has a history that dates back to the 1930s.

This year, the race will be run March 6. It may take that long to find a suitable field.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A slow start and a full belly may have kept In the Slips from winning the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Hollywood Park in her U.S. debut on Nov. 29.

Trainer Jeff Mullins has spent the last month working with In the Slips to prevent a recurrence in Friday's $65,000 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita.

In the Slips raced at the back of a field of eight in the Miesque Stakes and stormed home to miss catching The Mailet by a half-length in the one-mile turf race.

Portland Meadows canceled its Wednesday card because of poor track conditions caused by inclement weather. The track also canceled its final two races on Tuesday because of heavy snow and high winds.

Racing was scheduled to resume on Monday, with first post time 12:40 p.m.