Horse Racing News on January 3, 2013

It's a long way from the first Saturday in January to the first Saturday in May, but for newly-minted 3-year-olds the $200,000 Jerome Stakes and the $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack could serve as a road map to the future.

The Triple Crown season at Santa Anita Park begins Jan. 5 with the Sham Stakes led by Goldencents, recent winner of the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot and runner-up in the prestigious Champagne Stakes.

Two months out from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert already has stable star Game On Dude penciled in for the prestigious 1 1/4-mile test.

Gulfstream Park's preliminary filing for racing dates shows it plans to have racing every week, in some cases just on Saturdays and Sundays, with a total of 153 race days during the 12 months beginning July 1.

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens gave official confirmation Jan .3 to the rumors that have been flying since he started getting back on Thoroughbreds eight weeks ago; on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita Park, he'll again start riding races.