News editor Byron King previews the major 3-year-old stakes action on Jan. 4

Juddmonte’s lightly raced Pleasant, third in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, pursues her first graded stakes win when she races against six other foes in the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

Ruling there is a question of fact whether Steve Asmussen willfully violated federal wage and hour laws in Kentucky, a federal appeals court vacated a lower court judgment and sent the matter back to the trial court for further handling.

Though only seven furlongs, the San Vicente has sent seven winners on to victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and Bob Baffert has Barnes and Romanesque entered in the Jan. 4 stakes race at Santa Anita Park.

Though only seven furlongs, the San Vicente has sent seven winners on to victory in the Kentucky Derby, and Bob Baffert has Barnes and Romanesque entered in the Jan. 4 stakes race at Santa Anita Park.

While specific comeback races have yet to be decided, owner Mike Repole has a few primary targets in mind for his two stars, who are about to turn 4 on Jan. 1.

In his 30-year career, Gryder was a multiple graded stakes race winner of over 4,000 races worldwide with over $123 million in purses. In 2009, he won the $6 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on Well Armed by a record 14 lengths.

The Travers Stakes (G1) had it all. An exciting matchup. A thrilling finish. A packed house at America’s most beloved racetrack. In years to come it will be mentioned as one of the great moments in the long and storied history of Saratoga.

Becky Thomas on Freud, New York freshman sire Honest Mischief, and other topics.

Naughty Rascal, the lone stakes winner in the field, will face two Chad Brown trainees, Treaty of Rome and the undefeated Septarian, owned by Resolute Racing, in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.