NEW ORLEANS - As Sam-Son Farm continues to restructure its operation, it has begun to spread its stock to a second trainer, Malcolm Pierce.

Sam-Son began paring down in January, looking to trim back from 180 horses, with roughly 40 in training. The goal by year's end is 110 horses, with 20 to 25 in training. Of the reduced count, the lion's share will remain with trainer Mark Frostad, who has been the only trainer for Sam-Son Farms since 1995, though Pierce will train six maidens for the outfit at Fair Grounds.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Smart Surprise came to trainer Josie Carroll here two summers ago as a maiden after 10 starts. But Smart Surprise proceeded to win three of her four outings here, including a jump from a first-level allowance to the $150,000 Bessarabian, the seven-furlong stakes for fillies and mares that she will attempt to capture again here Sunday.

"She's come a long way," said Carroll, who conditions Smart Surprise for Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc.

The Oklahoma Racing Commission on Thursday set a Dec. 17 special meeting to consider Global Gaming's licensing as the new owner of Remington Park. In August, Global Gaming reached an agreement to purchase the track from Magna Entertainment for $80.25 million. Magna filed for bankruptcy in March.

Remington operates a casino with 700 electronic games. The Oklahoma City track is in the midst of a Thoroughbred meet that runs through Dec. 14.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In hindsight, Custom for Carlos might have fit nicely a couple of weeks ago in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Not given to second-guessing, however, trainer Eddie Kenneally would gladly settle for a spot for Custom for Carlos in the Sprint next year, when the Breeders' Cup returns to Churchill Downs.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bobby Frankel went out a winner.

Entries for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park were taken before Frankel died early Monday morning, so the Wednesday program listed Life By R R, who ran in the fifth race, as being trained by Frankel. And when Life By R R subsequently won, victorious jockey Alex Solis realized the significance of the win as he passed the finish line. Solis gave a couple of fist pumps, something usually seen in a stakes race, not a $25,000 claimer.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Martin Drexler, who had been one of the top trainers at Assiniboia Downs, elected to cast his lot at Woodbine this year.

And Drexler, who had tested the waters here the past few falls, certainly has had no regrets.

"It's been great - beyond anything I could have expected," said the 39-year-old Drexler, who has six stalls here. "I set kind of a lofty goal of 10 wins. I thought if I could scrape up 10 wins I would be ecstatic."

MIAMI - Big Drama and Duke of Mischief knocked heads with some of the elite members of the 3-year-old division this past summer, both getting Grade 1 experience under their belts while banking nearly $700,000 between them in 2009. Currently, they are getting some rest and relaxation with trainer David Fawkes hoping to have both back in action as 4-year-olds this winter at Gulfstream Park.

WHO'S HOT

The hottest jockey in Southern California is Joel Rosario, who went 7 for 22 opening weekend and won both California-bred stakes with middle-odds winners. Bestdressed ($12.60) won the On Trust Handicap on Nov. 14, and U R All That I Am ($13.20) won the Cat's Cradle Handicap on Nov. 15. Rosario and Rafael Bejarano have emerged as the circuit's top overnight riders; Rosario's mounts generally offer greater wagering value.

John Sadler, trainer of deep closer Bestdressed, said, "Rosario's a great rider for him because he's such a strong finisher."

The advent of the synthetic-track age in Southern California has forced some unforeseen handicapping ramifications on horseplayers, one being how to assess prospective Derby candidates who established themselves on synthetic footing. The old dirt situation reliably revealed the best of the West as those top juveniles went through Oak Tree's Norfolk, maybe the Breeders' Cup wherever it was held, and in Hollywood's year-end prize, the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. That race has produced numerous Derby/Triple Crown protagonists such as Ferdinand, Snow Chief, Alysheba, A.P.

WHO'S HOT

The top three local riders - Luis Saez, Eibar Coa, and Manoel Cruz - all had big weekends.