With one notable exception, the course of the equine herpesvirus outbreak at Fair Grounds appears to be progressing as well as could be hoped. There have been no new cases after a single filly showed symptoms and was diagnosed with the virus on Dec. 24 in Kentucky, and even that filly has made a rapid recovery while never showing the most serious neurological effects of the disease. None of the five horses who were removed from the track Wednesday after triggering positive herpesvirus tests has shown signs of illness.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Zada Belle's victory in Thursday's $67,965 Interborough Stakes was as easy as expected. But there were a few moments before the race that had trainer Tom Albertrani a little anxious.

As she walked out of the saddling stall to get a bigger girth put on, Zada Belle, the 1-2 favorite, twisted her left front shoe and it needed to be repaired by the paddock blacksmith.

"It's always a bad omen, like, 'Oh no, the shoe's coming off, she's going to get upset getting the shoe back on,' '' Albertrani said. "Somehow, she twisted her foot on the bricks here.''

Backbackbackgone ($3.40) turned in a strong performance capturing the $75,000 Golden Bear Stakes on Thursday at Golden Gate Fields.

Prepping for the Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream and Jan. 24, Backbackbackgone got a patient ride from Russell Baze, and made a strong move into the stretch as he won the third stakes of his career in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds. He covered six furlongs in 1:11.01, defeating fast-finishing Free Action by one length. Pacesetting Revoluta faded to third another 1 1/4 lengths back.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Rome wasn't built in a day. The new Gulfstream Park certainly hasn't gone up overnight, either, and at times it has seemed like the ambitious project might take centuries.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park may be celebrating its 70th birthday this winter, but the old place will feature plenty of new wrinkles when the 79-day 2009 meet opens on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's already potent stable received a couple of very classy additions late last month, with the arrival of Breeders' Cup winner Albertus Maximus and Arkansas Derby winner Gayego.

Unfortunately for McLaughlin, neither is likely to stay with him very long.

ARCADIA, Calif. - In Summation began 2009 the same way as 2008 - winning the $98,000 El Conejo Handicap at Santa Anita.

His repeat win Thursday ended a five-race losing streak dating back to January 2008 and was his 10th stakes win.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, In Summation rallied from last in a field of four to win the Grade 3 El Conejo by a length. Sent off favored, In Summation ($4.40) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.58 while wearing blinkers for the first time in his career.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Even though Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface came through a recent spate of wet weather without losing any days to training, there has been growing concern among trainers over injuries at the track, and those fears may have been further inflamed on Wednesday when Boozin' Bear sustained fatal injuries in the day's first race.

Boozin' Bear, who suffered a condylar fracture to his right hind leg, became the third horse to be euthanized from racing injuries during the first five days of the meeting. All the horses were racing on the main track.

Trainer Steve Asmussen won with his final stakes starter of 2008 on Tuesday, when Retap closed with determination for a half-length score in the $106,550 Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park.

Retap was an odds-on favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong race following his fourth-place finish to Big Drama in the Grade 3, $750,000 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs. He overcame traffic on the turn and wore down the leaders to earn a Beyer Figure of 80.

Asmussen on Wednesday was just starting to look at his options for Retap, which include stakes for 3-year-olds at Sunland and Oaklawn.

Stephanie Beattie's horses won two of the final three races on Tuesday night's card to clinch the 2008 training title at Penn National Race Course.

Beattie came into the final program of the calendar year leading defending champion Murray Rojas by just two wins, and entered runners in three races. Rojas, who last season became the first female in the track's 36-year history to win a training title, ran eight horses on the final night of the meet, but managed no better than a pair of seconds.