Sourdough Sam, Northern California's top 3-year-old prospect, has been sidelined with a shin problem and will not be pointed to the Kentucky Derby, trainer Dean Pederson said.

Sourdough Sam rallied to win the one-mile Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 12, looking like a horse who would appreciate more distance. But he came out of the race with "some minor issues," Pederson said, and is being given time off.

"It's disappointing with a young horse given the time of the year," Pederson said. "There will be no surgery needed."

WHO'S HOT

Paco Lopez

A year ago, Lopez was barred from riding at Calder for reasons track officials never specifically addressed. Lopez, who captured the 2008 riding title and went on to be named the year's Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey, was ultimately granted permission to ride here again in 2009. He returned earlier this month after spending the summer and most of the fall on the New Jersey circuit and wasted little time making his presence felt, winning six races last week, including riding doubles on Dec. 17 and 19.

When a horse runs off to a huge lead, and the pack catches up to him, he's usually done. Engulfed. Toast.

But Presious Passion is defying that conventional notion. For nearly two years, competing at some of the highest levels of American turf racing, he has been speeding away to eye-popping leads, then somehow hanging in there, usually winning or earning a sizable check.

"He likes doing what he does," said Mary Hartmann, who trains Presious Passion, a 6-year-old gelding, for Frank and Patricia Generazio. "It makes him happy."

WHO'S HOT

The big three - Joel Rosario, Rafael Bejarano, and Garrett Gomez - get the publicity, but another rider may be coming into his own.

Joe Talamo looks ready to make it a big four. After missing a week because he was riding in Hong Kong, Talamo returned without missing a beat, topped off by a hat trick last Friday. He came back with a big Sunday, clicking with four of his mounts, earning second in the standings. His fine meet may be the launching pad for a strong Santa Anita run and a chance to challenge the big three.

It was not as if John Sadler burst onto the scene as a new face when he won the first training title of his career at the Hollywood Park fall meeting in 2007. He had been training since 1978.

He just needed to pass one of life's milestones - Sadler had turned 50.

"I'm a middle-aged guy now," he said. "You're supposed to have your best years between the ages of 50 and 60."

Sadler, 53, is living that belief.

All right then, why don't we wrap up everything that's been going on at the Big A during the last 12 days?

In a word: nothing.

WHO (WAS) HOT

The Oklahoma Racing Commission on Tuesday afternoon unanimously approved Global Gaming's license application as the new owner of Remington Park. The company, which is owned by the Chickasaw Nation, had reached an agreement in August to purchase the Oklahoma City track from Magna Entertainment for $80.25 million. Magna filed for bankruptcy in March.

Global Gaming RP LLC is to take over as the new operator of Remington on Jan. 1, 2010.

Jockey Glenn Corbett notched career Thoroughbred victory 3,000 at Turf Paradise Tuesday when he guided home Souvenir Winner in the fourth race.

Corbett, 44, rode his first winner at Penn National in 1985. He splits his season primarily between Turf Paradise and Prairie Meadows.

"It's a milestone to be sure, and it feels that way," he said.

Corbett, Turf Paradise's leading rider in 2007, has won four stakes this meet. He is also the regular rider of 2010 Kentucky Derby prospect Uh Oh Bango.

Remington Park in Oklahoma City will offer 28 stakes worth an estimated $4.4 million during its 50-date Quarter Horse meet that opens on March 5, 2010. The season will run through May 31.

During the meet there will be three major stakes for 2-year-olds, led by the Grade 1, $1 million-estimated Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Leading up to that race is the Grade 2, $350,000-estimated Oklahoma Futurity on March 20, and the Grade 1, $750,000-estimated Remington Park Futurity on April 17.

The Heritage Place is the richest race in Oklahoma.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance has accredited Aqueduct racetrack in Queens, N.Y., the alliance and track announced Tuesday.

Aqueduct, which is operated by the New York Racing Association, is the 14th track to be accredited in a program that was launched earlier this year. The two other tracks operated by NYRA, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, were already accredited.

Mike Ziegler, executive director of the alliance, said in a statement that NYRA had "exceeded benchmarks on a wide variety of fronts."