Mor Spirit, Songbird work for upcoming starts

Both Grade 1 victor Mor Spirit and champion Songbird were on track Sunday at

Santa Anita Park to ready for their next starts. Mor Spirit clocked

five-eighths in :59.80 ahead of the March 12 San Felipe (G2) while Songbird

turned a half-mile in :48 for Saturday's Santa Ysabel (G3).

Numerous Gotham (G3) hopefuls were out in force over the weekend across the

country, including last-out Withers (G3) hero Sunny Ridge who traveled four

furlongs in :51.80 over Belmont Park's fast training track Friday morning.

Black Ops, 10th in the Smarty Jones S. last out, will make his next start in the

9TH race at Oaklawn Park on Friday. A strong performance could see the

Rodney Richards pupil take on the March 19 Rebel (G2) in his next effort.

Mobile Bay returned to the winner's circle Saturday night at Sam Houston with a

gutsy neck victory in the Maxxam Gold Cup for trainer Victor Arceneaux. That

contest highlighted a four-stakes program that also saw trainer Joe Starp saddle

Mexican Miss to score in the Jersey Lilly S. and send out American Sailor and El

Botas for a one-two finish in the Bucharest Turf Sprint. Two Step Time captured

the Texas Heritage S. for trainer Mike Maker and jockey Robby Albarado, who

teamed up earlier on Saturday at Fair Grounds to take the Black Gold S. with

Oscar Nominated.