Kris Prather celebrated the New Year by winning the first race Tuesday, her first victory since she was sidelined because of shoulder surgery in August.

Prather, who dominated the holiday and winter-spring meets last winter at Turfway in Florence, Ky., rode Raymur City to a 3 1/2-length victory in the first race Tuesday.

In all, Prather had 12 mounts Monday and Tuesday; Raymur City was her only winner.

"All the trainers have been great to me since I came back," Prather said. "I'm just really glad to be back to doing what I love."

NEW ORLEANS - Last year, trainer Josie Carroll won the Lecomte Stakes, Fair Grounds's first route stakes of the year for 3-year-olds, with Sam Lord's Castle. This season, Carroll may have two chances for a repeat in the race. Both Mapp Hill and Lead by Example, the Carroll-trained one-two finishers in Monday's Sugar Bowl Stakes, could run next in the Lecomte, a one-mile race Jan. 26.

ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Steve Specht won his New Year's Day gamble at Golden Gate Fields when I'madrifter won the $100,000 Lafayette Handicap.

The one-mile race was originally scheduled to be run on the turf course, but Specht entered the 4-year-old colt in hopes the race would be shifted to the main track because of heavy rains that have inundated Northern California the past week. The race was shifted to a sloppy main track, and I'madrifter ($6.20) was the favorite.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Snow Ridge leaped out of the gate on top, outdueled the fleet Freespool through torrid fractions, then pulled clear for an 18-1 upset victory in Tuesday's Grade 3, $109,500 El Conejo Handicap* (click here for chart) at Santa Anita.

Snow Ridge finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Explicit, then had to survive a foul claim lodged by Explicit's jockey, Kent Desormeaux. He alleged interference shortly after the start, but the stewards quickly dismissed the claim and made the race official.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park ushers in the era of deregulation in south Florida on Thursday when its 90-day meet opens. The meet, which ends April 24, is the longest in track history, running six weeks longer than the previous 10 meets, which ended on March 16.

As usual, the opening-day feature is the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes, the first of five stakes for 3-year-olds leading up to the $1 million Florida Derby on March 16.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As they watched Monarchos* (click here for PP's) gobble up the Gulfstream Park stretch with each stride at the end of a five-furlong workout Sunday morning, owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward couldn't help but think back to a year ago this time.

"He was just a baby this time last year," Oxley said, noting that Monarchos had not even won his maiden race yet.

"He's so much smoother than he was," said Ward, who clocked Monarchos for a five-furlong move in 1:01.60 and caught him gallop out a mile in 1:43.20.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Although there will be appearances by the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner and the 2000 Preakness winner in the first five weeks, the 63rd Gulfstream Park meeting - as always - is about the 3-year-olds.

The 90-day meet begins on Thursday with an 11-race card led by the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. The series of 3-year-old races includes the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Stakes (Jan. 19), the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes (Feb. 2), the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (Feb. 16), and the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (March 16).

MIAMI - New Year's Day didn't start off so well for Jerry Bailey. But it ended just fine after Bailey rode Stormy Frolic to victory in the $100,000 Tropical Park Oaks.

The Oaks shared top billing on Tuesday's program with the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby, won by Political Attack, who defeated Bailey and The Judge Sez Who in the Grade 3 race. Both races were scheduled to be run on the turf but were switched to a fast main track.

INDIANTOWN, Fla. - The closing of the Hialeah barn area has put stall space at a premium in south Florida this winter. Horsemen hoping to turn to the Payson Park Training Center as an alternative have quickly learned there is no room at the inn.

About the only way to secure stall space at Payson these days is to have it willed to you by your next of kin. All 503 stalls at the facility, approximately 95 miles north of Gulfstream Park, have gone to the same familiar faces, all of whom gladly fork over $2,300 per stall for a seven-month stay, Oct. 1 through May 1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - He played golf, vacationed with his family, and attended a few horse sales. Now that his four-month suspension is over, trainer John Dowd is ready to get back to work.

Dowd is back at Gulfstream Park, where a year ago he won the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth with Songandaprayer, who would not win another race and who is now retired at Marablue Farm in Reddick, Fla.