Songbird works, California Chrome settles in for San Pasqual

Songbird works, California Chrome settles in for San

Pasqual

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine

Songbird, unbeaten in four starts and certain to be named champion 2-year-old

filly, recorded her second workout Friday at Santa Anita in advance of her

seasonal debut, the Las Virgenes (G1) on February 6. California Chrome also made

his first appearance at Santa Anita Friday morning after shipping from his Los

Alamitos base and is scheduled to work six furlongs Saturday for trainer Art

Sherman.

Turf sprint specialist

Ageless heads a solid field of seven females in Sunday's $200,000 Monrovia (G2)

at Santa Anita. The about 6 1/2-furlong turf test is an early stepping stone

to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita this fall.

NYRA has scheduled six maiden races worth $100,000 that will serve as

stepping stones to the Astoria and Tremont in early June at Belmont Park.

The first Saturday of the New Year at Gulfstream Park features five stakes for

3-year-olds, highlighted by the Hutcheson (G3) and Old Hat (G3) at six

furlongs. Turf sophomores will also be in action in the Dania Beach (G3) and

Ginger Brew.

Santa Anita will feature a trio of stakes races on Saturday. A strong field

of turf runners is set for the San Gabriel (G2), Bob Baffert will send out three

of the eight fillies in the Santa Ynez (G2) and sprinters will square off in the

Midnight Lute (G3).

Also at the Twin Spires Blog:

Vance Hanson plans to concentrate more upon stakes races for his wagering in

2016 and

gives his thoughts on Saturday's stakes action at Gulfstream Park and Santa

Anita.

Jockey

Victor Espinoza is expecting a new and improved version of California Chrome in

2016. Unraced since a runner-up in the Dubai World Cup (G1) last March, the

2014 Horse of the Year is gearing up for his comeback in the January 9 San

Pasqual (G2) at Santa Anita.

Unbeaten

Mohaymen, a top contender for the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) following wins in the

Remsen (G2) and Nashua (G2), returned to the worktab on Thursday, breezing a

half-mile in :49.45 at Palm Meadows. A $2.2 million yearling purchase, the

Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Tapit colt is scheduled to make his 3-year-old bow in

the January 30 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Ed DeRosa provides his Eclipse Award ballot:

"Valuing Breeders' Cup Victories in Close Eclipse Contests."

Dick Powell explains in his weekly Handicapping Insights column why

American Pharoah made for a great year in horse racing.