Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., drew a cumulative 61,022 patrons - an average of 15,256 a day - over its four-day opening weekend, with temperatures consistently in the mid-30s for much of that period. The total handle on the track's races during the Friday-through-Monday opener was $13.4 million (average of $3.4 million a day). Of that amount, $4.4 million was bet ontrack on Oaklawn races.

Three-year-old action is heating up at Fair Grounds, but some of the better horses based in New Orleans may not actually be racing in New Orleans.

Count among that group Denis of Cork, who won on Saturday for the second time in as many career starts, but only barely. An eye-catching winner of his career debut Nov. 24 at Churchill, Denis of Cork won an entry-level allowance race by a nose over the decent Unbridled Vicar, a tight margin of victory for a well-regarded 4-5 shot.

ARCADIA, Calif. - After watching Gayego pummel his rivals last Saturday in the 6 1/2-furlong San Pedro Stakes, trainer Paulo Lobo is eager to learn just how far the 3-year-old will run.

"I'm thinking seriously about two turns," Lobo said. "The way he has been running - the way he tracks and closes at the end - I think he can go a mile, a mile and a sixteenth."

Gayego ($10.20) earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure winning the San Pedro in a track-record time of 1:13.07.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Allen Iwinski is easing back into the horse-training business, but it isn't by choice. Away from the game for nearly three years because of illness, Iwinski is back at Gulfstream Park this winter with eight horses. He could have more.

"I could fill this barn up with horses if I had the stall space," Iwinski said standing outside Barn 4. Gulfstream management, he said, "really cramped my style. They made it very difficult."

Northern California has three legitimate contenders in Saturday's $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita, including the defending champion, McCann's Mojave; last year's California Cup Classic winner, Bold Chieftain; and Now Victory, who just beat McCann's Mojave in the Dec. 26 Forty Niner. In addition, two Northern California-based mares, Somethinaboutlaura and Gentle Charmer, will be pitted against Nashoba's Key in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, also at Santa Anita.

When last seen on the racetrack, Ginger Punch was covered in mud and heading toward the winner's circle after the $2.07 million Breeders' Cup Distaff at Monmouth Park last October. She had just fought off a stretch-long threat from Hystericalady and a late run from Octave to win the richest race of the year for females, a victory that helped her clinch the Eclipse Award title as outstanding older female of 2007.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Liberty Bull withstood a stretch bid from Isabull and a stewards' inquiry for making contact in the stretch with that rival to win the inaugural Smarty Jones Stakes before 11,871 at Oaklawn Park on Monday. Liberty Bull won the $50,000 stakes for 3-year-olds by neck over Isabull. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Young Ruler.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Speed is usually a big asset on Aqueduct’s inner track, and that proved to be the case in both six-furlong stakes on Monday.

In the featured $81,725 Jimmy Winkfield for 3-year-olds, Go Go Shoot was a bit fractious behind the gate, but was all business during the running and led past every pole under Alan Garcia.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Barclay Tagg has been targeting Sunday’s Grade 3 Appleton Handicap at Gulfstream Park for Showing Up’s return to the races for months. And while he still plans to enter the horse in the $125,000 race, Tagg is slightly hedging his bet.

Showing Up, away from the races since April, worked five furlongs in 1:02 over the Palm Meadows turf course on Monday. While it was a decent work, Tagg said he was hoping it would have been a little faster.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There were few surprises when entries were drawn Sunday for the eight Sunshine Millions races, to be run Saturday at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.

As expected, Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Ginger Punch was one of 12 fillies and mares entered for the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream, while Nashoba's Key will remain on grass to compete in the $500,000 Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Trainer Carla Gaines had also pre-entered Nashoba's Key for the $1 million Classic.