HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will attempt to walk the fine line of winning a Grade 2 stakes while leaving something in the tank for more important goals when he sends out his top Kentucky Derby prospect, Cairo Prince, against 10 rivals in a stellar renewal of the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday.

The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull is the first of three major Derby preps at Gulfstream Park this season and anchors an 11-race program that also includes the Grade 2 Forward Gal for 3-year-old fillies.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Rick Violette currently has two top 3-year-old prospects in training at Palm Meadows, Financial Mogul and the undefeated Samraat, and for the time being has plotted different courses for the pair in hopes of achieving the same goal – getting into this year’s Kentucky Derby.

[Holy Bull Stakes: Get PPs, watch Saturday's card live]

ARCADIA, Calif. – The unbeaten 3-year-old stakes winners Midnight Hawk and Indianapolis are being pointed to graded stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.

Midnight Hawk, winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 11, is tentatively scheduled to run in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 8.

Also scheduled for the Lewis is newly minted 2-year-old male champion Shared Belief.

“I think he’ll run there,” Baffert said. “I’ll know a week before, but that’s an option.”

Exit Stage Left made it three stakes victories in three career starts with a half-length win in the 1 1/16-mile California Derby last Saturday and has shown continued improvement. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Russell Baze stressed the gameness and competitiveness of the Noonmark colt.

“He’s a tough, little dude,” said Baze, who knows the colt well and was comfortable letting him run on the front end in the California Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tanzanite Cat, Walt, and Coastline, who finished 1-2-3 in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park on Monday, are all being pointed to the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest on Feb. 17, their trainers said Tuesday. The 1 1/16-mile race is the second 3-year-old prep on the local road to the Arkansas Derby.

The series was off to a rousing start Monday, when Tanzanite Cat and Walt traded the lead early in the one-mile Smarty Jones and then battled into the stretch. Tanzanite Cat prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths in his first start against winners, and first at two turns.

HALLANDALE BEACH,Fla. –The post position draw for Saturday’s Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park elicited mixed reactions from the connections of several of the leading contenders set to compete in the first major 3-year-old test of the meet, including likely favorite Cairo Prince and the undefeated Coup de Grace.

$150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes; 1 mile; Oaklawn Park; Jan. 20
(10 Kentucky Derby eligibility points to the winner, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth.)

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tanzanite Cat was one of the more promising 3-year-olds brought to town by Oaklawn Park leading trainer Cody Autrey for the new season, and the horse proved his quality Monday, winning his stakes debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Street Gent, a front-running winner of a two-turn maiden race over Aqueduct’s main track Dec. 1 for trainer Leah Gyarmati, worked a mile in 1:45.98 on Monday over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the Grade 3 Withers Stakes here Feb. 1.

With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, Street Gent broke off at the wire and went the opening half-mile in an easy 55.92 seconds. Leaving the half-mile pole, Street Gent found himself mixed in with a pair of horses from another stable who broke off in front of him to work.

Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes; one mile and 70 yards; Fair Grounds; Jan 18.
(10 Kentucky Derby eligibility points to the winner, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth.)

Vicar’s in Trouble, the only Louisiana-bred in this stakes, proved two things with his dominating 6 3/4-length victory Saturday.