HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla,. – The winter of 2021 started off just fine for trainer Robert “Butch” Reid Jr. and the connections of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly winner Vequist after she was named the 2020 Eclipse Award champion in her division, as expected, in January. But with visions of the Kentucky Oaks dancing in their heads, Vequist’s Florida vacation went downhill from there, culminating with her disastrous effort in the Grade 3 Davona Dale when finishing ninth, beaten 26 lengths, as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite here Feb. 27.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Prevalence, unbeaten and untested in two starts at Gulfstream Park, will make his two-turn and stakes debut in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, his connections confirmed on Friday.

Laurel Park has canceled live racing through next weekend as it continues to struggle with containing an equine herpesvirus outbreak among the state’s Thoroughbred population, track officials said Friday during a conference call with horsemen and state veterinary officials.

Entering the last week of the 2020-2021 Fair Grounds meet, a real race was on for leading trainer. Ron Faucheux continues to bombard the entry box and came into Wednesday’s card with 37 winners, one more than Brad Cox. Tom Amoss has sent out 33 winners, probably too few to catch the top two. Cox has led the standings for much of the season, but Faucheux, with a bevy of Louisiana-bred and conditioned claiming horses at his disposal, has hung tough.

For decades, Hugh Robertson has scoured the quiet corners of Kentucky yearling sales, hunting bargains, employing a “zig when they zag” approach. The crowd seeks out hot sires; Robertson focuses on stallions whose progeny get little attention. The major players will bypass pedigree for an individual who stands out physically; Robertson concentrates on runts.

The method seems simple but requires deep insight and experience. The obvious auction horses are obvious for a reason. A bargain hunter might get lucky once or twice. Robertson has been finding hidden gems for decades.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While racetracks in other jurisdictions have announced plans to host fans on a limited basis, the New York Racing Association is still awaiting guidance from state officials on rules to allow it to host patrons at the upcoming Belmont and Saratoga meets.

Del Mar has increased incentives paid to owners of horses sent to California from other states or countries for the track’s summer meeting from July 16 to Sept. 6 in an effort to boost field size.

Parnelli, well beaten in two graded stakes for 3-year-olds in January, will start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, joining a field that has increased in size in recent days following the defection of race favorite Life Is Good.

Parnelli worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Wednesday at Santa Anita.

“He was very strong and into the bridle,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He galloped out nicely.”

Shirreffs said the absence of Life Is Good due to injury has influenced the decision to start Parnelli, who will be a longshot.

Los Alamitos has changed the qualifying format for the $600,000 Champion of Champions for older horses on Dec. 11, giving track officials the discretion to invite horses instead of awarding some berths to the winners of major stakes outside California.

In recent years, the winners of such races as the Remington Park Championship, All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs, and Bank of America Challenge Championship, which frequently moves to different venues, have received provisional berths, provided the horse can comply with the track’s strict medication policies.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park has a new training center about 20 miles from the track, and it will be open for year-round access following the close of the current meet on May 1, track president Lou Cella said Tuesday.

“We just made that decision last week,” Cella said. “We’re going to open to trainers for use after the season. It will be year round, starting after the meet.”