ARCADIA, Calif. - A jumbled cast of sprinters, comebackers, shippers, and former stars entered the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Most entered for the same reason as trainer Bob Baffert.

"We've got to take advantage while Rock Hard Ten is out," he said, explaining why his allowance-class sprinter Indian Country entered a Grade 2 route. Seems reasonable. But even with Rock Hard Ten awaiting the Feb. 5 Strub Stakes, the San Fernando is no easy spot for a front-running sprinter.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Thoroughbred owner Gerald Uvari and trainer Greg Martin were two of 17 people indicted on fraud and conspiracy charges Thursday in Manhattan federal court as part of an alleged multimillion-dollar illegal gambling operation that brokered more than $200 million in bets on horse racing and other sports and fixed a race at Aqueduct in 2003.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the accused had entered pleas. The U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York reported that arraignments would be scheduled over the next few days.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There will be other, more significant at Santa Anita. After all, the mile race for 3-year-olds has been repositioned from early March, and this year the San Rafael will be run right smack in the middle of January.

It is a long way from the ultimate jackpot, but not too soon to plot getting there. Jockey Gary Stevens, a three-time Derby winner, appreciates the nuances of developing 3-year-olds through the winter.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sweet Catomine rolled through a three-furlong work Thursday in a maintenance drill for the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes on Sunday. Sweet Catomine broke off five lengths behind another horse, went after that workmate while under a hold, and coasted to the end of the work in 35 seconds, third-fastest of the day at the distance.

"Whew!" exclaimed trainer Julio Canani as Sweet Catomine bounced off the track. "Good horses do that."

ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's $100,000 Golden Gate Derby could provide northern California racing fans with a view of one of the key 3-year-olds on this year's scene.

, a winner of 3 of 4 starts, including the $1 million Delta Jackpot, will be the odds-on choice in the 1 1/16-mile Golden Gate Derby. Texcess was cross-entered in Saturday's one-mile San Rafael at Santa Anita but was vanned Thursday from his home base at Hollywood Park to Golden Gate.

"It was my choice," said trainer Paul Aguirre, who owns the gelding with Omar Aldabbaugh.

NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana Derby dreams of at least one horse's connections will come closer to realization Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 at Fair Grounds.

NEW ORLEANS - Enduring Will was sniffing through her straw bedding for strands of hay Thursday morning, her head down, hindquarters to her stall door.

"Watch out," cautioned trainer Al Stall, as a stranger, ignorant of Enduring Will's temperament, approached.

NEW ORLEANS - Punch Appeal has feasted on listed stakes competition, earning close to $300,000 in purses since she was privately purchased last summer, her success the product of talent and apt management. And her trainer, Steve Asmussen, has picked another plum spot for Punch Appeal, Saturday's $100,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes.

will be heavily favored in the one-mile Tiffany Lass - one of four stakes Saturday at Fair Grounds - especially with Jerry Bailey in from Florida to take the mount, and with only six opponents, none nearly as accomplished as she.

NEW ORLEANS - The Lecomte and Tiffany Lass, for 3-year-old colts and fillies respectively, are the star events on Saturday's Road to the Derby Kickoff Day card at Fair Grounds. But it will be the two wide open turf handicaps, the Col. Bradley and the Leggio Memorial, that power the all-stakes pick four.

The 1 1/16-mile Col. Bradley drew 11 starters after the defection of highweighted G P Fleet. Likely favorite is a 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winner, but he did not win a race in seven 2004 starts.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In the case of the Count Fleet Stakes, a week made a big difference.

When originally drawn to be run last Saturday, 13 3-year-olds were entered, there was plenty of speed in the race, and the strongest closer, Naughty New Yorker, was drawn nicely on the rail. The race was postponed, however, when the jockeys refused to ride following the day's third race.