HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – David Cabrera left his home in Mexico at 14 to chase the American dream. He’s captured it at Oaklawn.

Cabrera, 25, led the jockey standings heading into Monday’s holiday card. He’s a new face in Arkansas after plying his trade in Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. He’s won two stakes at the meet, including the $125,000 King Cotton with Wilbo.

“Everything just came together,” Cabrera said. “We work hard in the morning, with a good attitude, and I think people notice it. They gave us a chance. I think the horses can feel it, too. The horses are running well.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – New York horsemen who couldn’t ship their horses to Maryland for Saturday’s two graded sprint stakes at Laurel are considering their options for next starts for their horses.

After a barn at Belmont Park was placed under quarantine Friday due to a case of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, Laurel Park prohibited New York-based horses from shipping to that track.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 3-year-old New York-bred Nine Route has won all three of his starts since being transferred to trainer Jeremiah Englehart, and no one is more surprised about that than Englehart himself.

Nine Route made it three straight wins taking Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes by three lengths. Nine Route, a son of The Factor, is owned by Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, who races under the name August Dawn Farm.

“I didn’t like him in any of his races, and he’s done nothing but prove me wrong every time,” Englehart said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Kanthaka, impressive winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente on Feb. 10 at Santa Anita, is expected to make his next start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes on March 10 at Aqueduct, Terry Finley, president of owner West Point Thoroughbreds, said Monday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The brilliantly quick colt Justify joined trainer Bob Baffert’s deep list of contenders for the major stakes for 3-year-olds this year with a win in a seven-furlong maiden race in his debut Sunday at Santa Anita.

Justify, by Scat Daddy, was always near the front and won by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:21.86. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Justify earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104, the highest given to a 3-year-old this year.

“That was pretty impressive,” Baffert said Monday. “We knew he was special. He came out of it good, so we’re happy with that.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Robby Albarado will begin riding here on a regular basis Thursday, accepting two mounts on the 11-race card.

Albarado has transferred his tack from Fair Grounds in Louisiana and will have his engagements handled by Walter Blum Jr. while in south Florida.

Albarado made the switch, in large part, at the behest of trainer Dale Romans.

Gunnevera and Sharp Azteca took their first steps toward the Dubai World Cup this past weekend, working easy half-miles at Gulfstream Park West.

Gunnevera was timed in 50.83 seconds breezing Saturday, while Sharp Azteca covered the same distance in 49.60 the following morning.

The work was the first for Gunnevera since his third-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup. Gunnevera was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove an undescended testicle subsequent to his last start, but did not need the procedure, according to trainer Antonio Sano.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Irish War Cry announced his presence with authority to the 3-year-old division here last winter with an eye-catching 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Holy Bull. Trainer Graham Motion is hopeful Irish War Cry will announce his presence to the handicap division in similar fashion Saturday when he returns to Gulfstream Park to launch his 4-year-old campaign in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope.

Unique Bella, who won the Grade 2 Santa Maria here Feb. 10, and Dream Tree, who stayed unbeaten by winning the the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes here on Feb. 4, both worked at Santa Anita on Monday.

Unique Bella worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for Don Alberto Stables, Unique Bella won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes here on Dec. 26 to clinch the Eclipse Award as top female sprinter. She is expected to start in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational here on March 17.

After a torturous start to his Gulfstream meet, trainer Jaime Mejia finally found the winner’s circle when Belle Tapisserie won the fifth race Sunday.

Mejia had been 0 for 98 until Belle Tapisserie ($8.40) won the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special race by 2 1/4 lengths, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. The victory gave jockey Jorge Perez his first-ever Gulfstream victory and his first since shifting his tack here from Parx Racing.