For 16 seasons jockey Gerard Melancon was a Fair Grounds regular, winning races at a steady clip. But in 2007 Melancon moved his tack to Delta Downs in Vinton, La., for the winter. The money at Delta had gotten just about as good as at Fair Grounds, and Melancon every season ranks among the leading riders. Unlike when he rode in New Orleans, Melancon can make it home to the town of Scott in less than an hour after his work is done.

“I got a 10-acre farm, six broodmares,” he said. “I’m content. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”

“Todd Pletcher” is the name you see in the headline, but the names of Pletcher’s pair of 3-year-olds scheduled to start Saturday at Fair Grounds – Intense Holiday in the Risen Star and Got Lucky in the Rachel Alexandra – don’t appear to be written in large, bold letters.

Intense Holiday has won only 1 of 6 starts, and has been sent on the road this week while the highly regarded Pletcher-trained 3-year-old Commissioner stays home for the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapiture’s win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Monday was meaningful for more than one reason, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. Not only was Asmussen pleased to see the promising 3-year-old win his seasonal debut following some impressive works, but he was also thrilled for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, which has long sent horses to receive their earliest training lessons at the El Primero Training Center operated by Asmussen’s parents, Keith and Marilyn.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – The 3-year-old Mexikoma makes his return to the starting gate in an allowance race on Saturday’s Fountain of Youth card at Gulfstream Park. Last seen in November when he finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, Mexikoma breezed a half-mile Tuesday morning at Palm Meadows in 49.05 seconds.

Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park, Feb. 17
(10 Derby eligibility points to the winner, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Tapiture, who broke his maiden last fall while winning the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, was on the muscle for his 2014 debut, aggressively winning this 1 1/16-mile event by 4 1/4 lengths over heavily favored Strong Mandate at Oaklawn Park on Monday, Feb. 17.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Now it’s a rivalry.

Tapiture, who finished second to Strong Mandate in a maiden special weight race last August at Saratoga, reversed that order of finish on Monday at Oaklawn Park, when he strode to a 4 1/4-length win over the even-money favorite in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes.

It was the second time the pair had met, and both are now on course for a third showdown, in the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel on March 15.

Kentucky Derby Fever long has infected horsepeople with talented 3-year-olds, and now the malady has mutated, spinning off a similar affliction: Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points Fever.

A massive total of 16 horses passed the entry box Monday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, which awards Derby qualifying points to its first four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis. The main body of the field is 14-strong, with two longshots – the race’s lowest earners – on the also-eligible list.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A year ago, trainer Shug McGaughey won the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes from the rail with Orb. On Saturday, the Hall of Fame horseman will defend that title from the other end of the post-position spectrum after his Top Billing drew post 12 in a bulky field of 13 3-year-olds entered Monday for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

With the window of opportunity to get two workouts in before the March 1 Gotham Stakes starting to close, Withers runner-up Uncle Sigh worked five furlongs in 59.98 seconds over the Belmont Park training track on Monday afternoon, three hours after the usual morning training hours concluded.

The workout was timed by Uncle Sigh’s trainer Gary Contessa, who who said he caught the first three furlongs in 37 seconds and the final quarter in 22.98. Contessa said Uncle Sigh, ridden in the work by Nick Santagata, galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.96.

ARCADIA, Calif. – When jockey Joel Rosario was based in Southern California, one of his biggest supporters was trainer John Sadler. The band is back together, not quite as frequently, but still making hits.

With Rosario making a rare appearance at Santa Anita on Sunday, he and Sadler teamed to win the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes with Kobe’s Back, and on Monday, Sadler said Rosario had picked up the mount on Kristo for the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 8 at Santa Anita.

Kristo worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Monday at Santa Anita.