HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Former jockey Rene Douglas, who was left paralyzed following a riding mishap nearly 11 years ago at Arlington Park, has joined the local jockey agent ranks having taken the book of fellow Panamanian born rider Angel Rodriguez. The 19-year-old Rodriguez, who has been riding most recently in Saudi Arabia, returns to Gulfstream Park where he won 15 races during the 2018-19 Championship meet and seven more through the end of the spring session last year.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Shancelot is the No. 1-rated sprinter in the country, according to the latest Daily Racing Form divisional rankings. But those eagerly anticipating his 4-year-old debut will have to exercise some patience, with the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up not likely to return to action until the second half of the season.

ARCADIA, Calif. – American Theorem, unraced since a second-place finish in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last September, will have his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 14.

Trainer George Papaprodromou said on Wednesday that he considered starting American Theorem in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, but wanted to wait an additional week.

“I wanted to give him one more work,” Papaprodromou said. “I want to make sure he’s 100 percent.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith faces an uncertain riding schedule in March while awaiting clarification of a riding suspension issued in Saudi Arabia last Saturday for excessive use of the whip on runner-up Midnight Bisou in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. – John Sadler, trainer and lifelong racing fan, may achieve Santa Anita racing history on Saturday.

If Gift Box wins the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Sadler will become the first trainer to win the historic race in three consecutive years. Many trainers have won two consecutive runnings in this century, notably Bobby Frankel, Doug O’Neill and Bob Baffert. Baffert won the race three times in four years with Game On Dude in 2011 and 2013-14.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler have some fun decisions to make with Edgeway, who put up the second-best Beyer Speed Figure for a 3-year-old filly this year when she won her debut last Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

“There’s all kind of spots for her,” Sadler said.

Edgeway earned a Beyer of 94 for her five-length win in a maiden special weight over six furlongs. The number ranks second to the 98 that Frank’s Rockette earned for her win in the $75,000 Any Limit on Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park.

WHO’S HOT

Two newcomers – Charlatan and Major Fed – and a returnee – Three Technique – are the fresh names on this week’s Derby Watch top 20 list. Charlatan is 15-1 on the future line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Both Major Fed and Three Technique are 50-1. Ete Indien is now the co-third choice on McGee’s line at 8-1, tumbling sharply from last week’s 50-1, following his runaway victory in the Fountain of Youth.

Two months out from the Kentucky Derby on May 2, no trainer holds a stronger hand with 3-year-olds than does Bob Baffert, who has four members of the Derby Watch top 20, two of whom are scheduled to run Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, with at least one more scheduled to run the following Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Starship Jubilee, the standout 7-year-old mare with 16 wins from 34 starts, heads the lineup for the Grade 2, $200,000 Hillsborough, the richest of the four supporting events on Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby card. Javier Castellano has the mount for the 1 1/16-mile turf race, also expected to get at least two starters from the Chad Brown barn.

The other secondary features are the Grade 3, $150,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on turf; the Grade 3, $100,000 Challenger, for older horses at a mile and a sixteenth; and the $75,000 Columbia for 3-year-olds on turf.

First, Kiaran McLaughlin was leaving New York. Now, he’s simply leaving training altogether.

McLaughlin will give up training horses and become the agent for jockey Luis Saez beginning with the Keeneland meet, which opens on April 2. McLaughlin will be taking over for Richard DePass, who is retiring. DePass worked as Saez’s agent for the last eight years.