ARCADIA, Calif. – Venetian Harbor cruised to an easy win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Sana Anita despite losing a front shoe in the race.

Trainer Richard Baltas said he was unsure when Venetian Harbor jettisoned the shoe, but said the incident was not a concern on Sunday morning.

“You worry about that when it happens,” Baltas said. “Her feet are cold and she jogged sound.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mr. Buff, dominant winner of the Jazil Stakes in his most recent start, will make his next start in the $100,000 Bernardini Stakes here on Feb. 29, trainer John Kimmel said Sunday.

The Bernardini is run at 1 5/16 miles.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – New York-based runners Wicked Trick and Firenze Fire both put in workouts Sunday morning at Belmont Park in preparation for a start in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 General George Stakes at Laurel Park.

Wicked Trick, who has reeled off six consecutive victories, worked five furlongs in 1:01.90 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.08.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Following a solid workout Sunday morning at Belmont Park, Joevia was confirmed as a starter for the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 17, trainer Gregg Sacco said.

In the Razorback, Joevia will be returning to stakes company for the first time since he finished third in last year’s Belmont Stakes. On Jan. 17, Joevia came off a 223-day layoff to win a second-level allowance race at Aqueduct.

Midnight Bisou worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, second-fastest of 52 works at the distance Sunday morning at Fair Grounds and remains on track to start Feb. 29 in the $20 million Saudi Cup. The champion older female of 2019 has been breezing steadily here in New Orleans since December, the only hiccup whatsover in her Saudi Cup preparation a period of very wet weather that led to a 10-day gap between works. 

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Sole Volante could run back in the Tampa Bay Derby after breaking through as Kentucky Derby candidate Saturday in winning the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Twenty-three horses were entered Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes – and so there will be two Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes next Saturday at Fair Grounds.

A purse hike to $1 million for the New York Stakes, and the first stakes for 2-year-olds mandated to be run Lasix-free are among the changes to the Belmont Park 2020 stakes schedule released Saturday by the New York Racing Association.

NYRA will offer 58 stakes worth $18.65 million during the 51-Belmont spring/summer meet, which runs April 24 through July 12.

Hofburg will make his first start in seven months in the Mineshaft Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds, trainer Bill Mott said.

Hofburg, now 5, was one of the better 3-year-olds of his generation but didn’t start between October 2018 and July 2019. He won his comeback race last summer at Saratoga but hasn’t started since.

“He just wasn’t moving well, so we backed off him again, gave him time, brought him back,” Mott said. “He’s doing well again now.”

Though he was held in high regard by his connections from the start, By My Standards required four races to win a maiden race, but after doing so last Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds, he went on to capture the Louisiana Derby. By My Standards was training encouragingly for the Kentucky Derby but went into the race nursing a foot problem, had trouble in the running, finished 12th, and wound up getting the rest of the year off.