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OK, is this kid for real? We all know by now that Mario Gutierrez came to Santa Anita Park from tiny Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, B.C. and rocketed to stardom faster than any jockey in memory.

More than six months has passed since Acclamation won his fifth consecutive stakes at Santa Anita last October. Since then, he has overcome a bruised foot that forced him out of training and secured his Eclipse Award.

Paul Reddam's I'll Have Another, winner of the Santa Anita Derby and Robert Lewis Stakes, has been automatically placed on the vet's list in California after undergoing extracorporeal shock wave therapy on his back.

Capital Plan, with a perfect trip under Brice Blanc, registered a 1 1/2-length victory while making her stakes debut in the $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap on the turf April 21 at Santa Anita Park.

Weekend rains forced Saturday's $98,000 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita from the turf course to the main track, but it made no difference to 3-10 favorite Mizdirection, who was along in time to take the race by a half-length over pacesetting Teroda.

Patrick Valenzuela has announced his latest comeback through agent Tom Knust, saying he plans to return to race riding at Betfair Hollywood Park April 26.

Union Rags came up short in Saturday's Florida Derby, finishing third behind Take Charge Indy and Reveron, but the outcome does not hurt his chances in the Kentucky Derby.

Rick Porter announced that his Horse of the Year, Havre De Grace, would not race Friday at Oaklawn Park because of the weight assignments.

On the day after I'll Have Another squeaked out a dramatic Santa Anita Derby victory over Creative Cause, trainer Doug O'Neill said he's unsure of when he'll ship the colt to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

Hronis Racing's Lady of Shamrock turned on the afterburners through the stretch of Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Providencia at Santa Anita.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith reached 5,000 career victories Saturday, winning aboard Amazombie in the $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita.

I'll Have Another remained perfect after two starts this year with a hard-fought win over Creative Cause in Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Cat Talk beat Don Perico by three-quarters of a length in the $76,800 Kitty Hawk Purse at Santa Anita on Friday, moving Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith within two wins of 5,000.

This is where the road to the Triple Crown detours through the land of Nod.

The Santa Anita Derby will be the most interesting of the four races this Saturday with Creative Cause and Liaison both having sufficient Graded earnings to guarantee a start.

Union Rags came up short in Saturday's Florida Derby, finishing third behind Take Charge Indy and Reveron, but the outcome does not hurt his chances in the Kentucky Derby.