Horse Racing News by Jay Privman

El Padrino has been described as extremely laid-back by his trainer, Todd Pletcher, but he showed Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds that he can be a street fighter, too.

Havre de Grace, the 2011 Horse of the Year, will make her first start of the new year in the Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17, owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones said Wednesday.

Game On Dude wins G2 San Antonio Stakes

Flags of the United States as well as California fly atop the grandstand at Santa Anita, but on Saturday, after a shocking upset by 43-1 outsider I'll Have Another in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, the audible gasp in the stands was "Oh, Canada."

After a dip in early nominations to the Triple Crown last year, the numbers came roaring back this year, with 397 3-year-olds -- led by champion 2-year-old colt Hansen -- announced on Saturday as nominees to the 2012 Triple Crown.

Jockey Garrett Gomez will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a heel fractured in a pre-race accident Sunday, his agent, Tony Matos, said Tuesday morning.

Jockey Garrett Gomez, found to have a fractured left heel after a pre-race accident Sunday at Santa Anita, was to visit Dr. James Tibone, an orthopedic specialist, for further evaluation Monday afternoon, Gomez's agent, Tony Matos, said Monday morning.

Led by Havre de Grace, the front-runner for Horse of the Year, the divisional finalists for the 2011 Eclipse Awards were announced on Thursday by the three organizations that vote on the awards.

Ultimate Eagle completed a dream weekend for owner B.J. Wright and trainer Mike Pender by leading from start to finish in the Grade 1, $250,000 Hollywood Derby on Sunday, one day after Wright and Pender captured the Citation Handicap with Jeranimo.

Pacific Ocean wins Underwood Stakes.