Roman Centurian, beaten a neck when second in his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis on Jan. 30, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on Friday at Santa Anita in preparation for a vital start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 6.

The $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles is a key prep for the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Roman Centurian had his first work since the Lewis.

“It was a chance to stretch his legs,” Callaghan said. “I was happy with him.”

Big Fish, winner of the $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita last month, has been sidelined with a hairline fracture of a hind ankle and will not race again until the summer, trainer David Hofmans said on Thursday.

The injury was diagnosed earlier this month.

“He’ll need a few months off,” Hofmans said. “It’s disappointing, but he will be okay. We’re pointing for Del Mar.”

Amundson, winner of the 2020 Hollie Hughes Stakes, and My Boy Tate, winner of that stakes in 2018 and runner-up last year, are part of a five-horse field entered Friday for Monday’s $100,000 Hollie Hughes for New York-bred sprinters.

Amundson is 0 for 3 since his victory in the Hollie Hughes and is making his first start since running last of seven in the John Morrissey at Saratoga last July 30.

As a restauranteur, Eddie Fazzone knows the importance of repeat customers. As a horse owner, Fazzone is hoping to pull off a rare repeat in Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes at Aqueduct.

Last year, Fazzone won the Gander with Chowda, a 15-1 shot, in a six-horse field. Sunday, Fazzone will seek to win the Gander again with Lobsta, a full brother to Chowda, one of several contenders in a seven-horse field. Both Lobsta and Chowda are trained by Gary Sciacca.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park has canceled its nine-race card for Friday due to “poor weather conditions,” the track announced. Earlier in the week, Oaklawn called off racing for Saturday through Monday due to a winter storm in the forecast.

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has canceled for Monday and Tuesday because of a forecast of freezing temperatures, according to a notice from the track. The track also has called off training Monday and Tuesday.

The inclement weather in the region also led to Sam Houston Race Park in Houston canceling part of its program Thursday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jesus’ Team is scheduled to resume a regular work schedule next Saturday after maintaining a light training schedule following his runner-up finish in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 23.

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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Billy Badgett, executive director of Florida racing operations for track owner The Stronach Group, said Gulfstream was scheduled to seek permission Friday from the city of Hallandale Beach to host ontrack fans on Fountain of Youth Day, Feb. 27. Except for the Jan. 23 Pegasus card, the general public has been barred from the track since the coronavirus pandemic began last March.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence, one of the more exciting prospects for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, was out for serious work again early Friday, going five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast track at the Palm Meadows training center.

Fair Grounds canceled its Thursday race card after heavy rain hit the track early in the afternoon. Horses were in the paddock for race 1 when rain intensified and after an initial delay, pushing the first post from 1 p.m. to 1:30, racing was called off.

More than two hours later, hard rain still was falling in the area. Turf racing Friday is all but certain to be abandoned, and Saturday's stakes races, if they remain on turf, are likely to be run over a course with give in the ground.
 

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Gatewood Bell, the founder of Cromwell Bloodstock who has held a variety of positions in racing, has been hired by Keeneland to become its vice president of racing, the Lexington, Ky., company announced on Thursday.

Bell, part of the third generation of a prominent Central Kentucky racing and breeding family, will fill a position vacated by the resignation of Robert Elliston late last year. Keeneland said that Bell will begin at his job “later this month.”