The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) released a pair of pre-season 'Kick-Off' polls for the 2012 racing season. Performances are through Sunday, February 12.

Since the Kentucky Derby Future Wager began in 1999, the mutuel field has been the correct bet in six of the 13 Pool 1 wagers, including three of the last four years. However, half of those winners paid $6.00 or less and two others were sent off at odds of 5-2 and 3-1. There is certainly no value in betting the chalk.

The first of three Kentucky Derby Future Wagers for the 2012 Run for the Roses closed Sunday night with the mutuel field being a heavy favorite. The top single three-year-old was Union Rags.

NEW YORK Stormy's Majesty and Beautiful But Blue scored front-running victories Sunday in $75,000 stakes races for New York breds at Aqueduct.

Hymn Book, making his 2012 debut, outfought Mission Impazible down the stretch to win Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The six-year-old gelding covered the 1 1/8- miles in 1:49.16 on a track listed as good.

Odds-on favorite Thunder Moccasin had a successful three-year-old debut Saturday in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The colt covered the seven-furlongs in 1:24.16 on a track listed as good.

Saturday marks a big day for trainer Kelly Breen with the return of his 2011 Belmont Stakes champion Ruler On Ice. The four-year-old gelding is one of the favorites for the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

A field of six three-year-olds have been entered for Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong contest is an early prep for next month's $1 million Florida Derby.

Triple Crown race winners Ruler On Ice and Shackleford head a field of 11 older thoroughbreds for Saturday's 1 1/8- mile Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The two four-year-olds will each be making their 2012 debuts.

Not one day of racing has been missed at Oaklawn Park in 2012 allowing the track to increase daily purses. The track announced Wednesday that overnight purses are going up $5,000 a day starting this week.

The mutuel field, undefeated Algorithms and Union Rags are listed as the three favorites for the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager for the 2012 Run for the Roses.

This past weekend's stakes races at Santa Anita Park for older thoroughbreds gave early incite into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic set for November at the southern California facility. However, next month's Santa Anita Handicap could prove an even better indicator.

This past Saturday had a trio of major stakes races for three-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail. Where the winners of the races will start next is not firmly decided.

How many times does a gambler like a horse and wish the odds could have been much higher than they were? It does not happen that often but when the unforeseen takes place, it's best to take the money and ask questions later.

I'll Have Another, the longest shot in the field, pulled an upset in Saturday's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is a stepping stone to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Lightly raced Battle Hardened came from off the pace to capture Saturday's $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1/16-mile race is the final local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby on March 10.

Odds-on favorite Alpha cruised to victory on Saturday in the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The race, which was not run last year, is a prep event for Aqueduct's $1 million Wood Memorial on April 7.

Local stakes winner Alpha has been made the even-money favorite in a field of seven for Saturday's $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. After a year's absence the Withers returns as a prep event for three-year-olds on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Three of the eight three-year-olds entered in Saturday's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park are trained by a pair of Hall of Fame conditioners with Kentucky Derby aspirations. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is a stepping stone to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has been dominating the Sam F. Davis Stakes in recent years and has another opportunity to win the event with its 32nd renewal on Saturday. The $250,000 stakes, with a field of 11 three-year-olds, will be conducted over a distance of 1 1/16-miles.

Not only does Bob Baffert have the favorite in this Saturday's Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, but the silver-haired trainer also has what could be the future Kentucky Derby champion entered in the Grade II event.

Eclipse Award winner Animal Kingdom will begin his four-year-old campaign later this month at Tampa Bay Downs. Team Valor's . Barry Irwin and trainer Graham Motion announced the decision in a press release.

Eight three-year-olds get back into action Saturday afternoon in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The 1 1/16-mile race is an important prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Alpha, winner of the Count Fleet Stakes, heads a field of seven for Saturday's $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The 1 1/16-mile event is part of the track's stakes series for three-year-olds leading to the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 7.