HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Hard Spun will likely pass the Grade 3, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17 in favor of the Grade 2, $500,000 Lane's End at Turfway Park on March 24, his trainer, Larry Jones, said on Tuesday.

Jones said he doesn't think Hard Spun is handling the racing surface at Oaklawn. He discussed the matter with owner Rick Porter after Hard Spun worked a half-mile in 50 seconds here Monday. Before committing to the Lane's End, Jones wants to make sure Hard spun has enough earnings to be guaranteed a spot in the starting gate.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Sunday's Grade 3 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint will include a familiar sight - Harry Aleo's bright orange colors aboard a heavy favorite. Aleo, who has owned such popular horses as Lost in the Fog, Vicarino and Victorina, will run Smokey Stover in the Bay Meadows BC. But there will be one thing different. Instead of Aleo's regular rider, Russell Baze, Aaron Gryder will be in the irons on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It took a different sort of performance for Lava Man to defend his title in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.

Unlike his win in the 2006 Pacific Classic, Lava Man did not pull away quickly on the final turn, leaving his rivals hopelessly beaten. And unlike his win in the 2006 Big Cap, Lava Man did not duel for the lead throughout.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It was business as usual at Todd Pletcher's barns at Palm Beach Downs and Palm Meadows on Sunday morning, less than 12 hours after the three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer completed arguably his single most successful day since taking out his license nine years ago.

NEW ORLEANS - Scott Blasi held Zanjero in such high regard last fall that he desperately wanted to run the colt in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, even though all he had done was win a maiden race, in moderate time, in three starts. Zanjero was excluded from the Juvenile when it oversubscribed, so he had to go instead in an allowance race, which he won, before finishing second to Nobiz Like Shobiz in the Remsen Stakes in his 2-year-old finale.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The handicap star Lava Man is likely to make his next start in one of two 1 1/8-mile turf races: the $5 million Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba on March 31 or the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 5, trainer Doug O'Neill said on Sunday.

On Saturday, Lava Man successful defended his title in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, holding off a threat from several runners through the stretch and finishing three-quarters of a length in front of runner-up Molengao.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In 2005, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin finished second in the Kentucky Derby with Closing Argument. In 2006, McLaughlin won the Belmont Stakes with Jazil. For this year's Triple Crown series, McLaughlin is resigned to the fact he just may be a spectator.

With his best 2-year-old from last year, Day Pass, having been transferred to Godolphin, and with the majority of his remaining prospects slow to come around, McLaughlin may be down to his last bullet in Wafi City, who runs in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

Assiniboia Downs will offer 31 stakes worth a total of $1.28 million at a 70-day meeting that begins on May 5 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"We've devoted a little more money to the stakes program," said Ray Miller, racing secretary at Assiniboia Downs, which offered 30 stakes worth $1.25 million last year.

"We wanted to have at least one stakes race in each division where they can get some black type, so we bumped some purses up and pulled some back."

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Baghdaria remains on course for the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 7 after her romping comeback win last weekend at Delta Downs. Baghdaria was a 7 1/4-length winner of the $75,000 Sweetheart, in what was her first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

She led throughout in the one-mile Sweetheart, covered the distance in a strong 1:39.50, and earned one of the best Beyer Speed Figures of her career, a 90.

Catman Running came out of his 1 3/4-length triumph in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Saturday in good fashion and is likely to run back in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway on March 24, trainer Eric Reed said Monday.

Catman Running, a gray colt making just his fourth start, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88 in turning back favored Joe Got Even for his third victory.

"I really liked this horse before he ever ran," said Reed. "I knew he needed some distance."