HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park will open Friday with a new president for the first time since 1968 following the December passing of Charles Cella. But those who patronize the thriving track can rest assured the new generation in command has full respect for the traditions of Oaklawn.

Louis Cella, the 52-year-old son of Charles Cella, has been named the track’s president, while his brother, John, who is president of the family’s Southern Real Estate and Financial Co., also will be central to the operation of Oaklawn.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mark Hennig said he is in no rush to bring his Grade 3 stakes-winning turf specialist Summersault back to the races, despite the fact she looked very sharp working six furlongs in 1:12.71 over the turf here Sunday. Summersault, winner of the Grade 3 Orchid here last winter, has not started since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap on Nov. 4 at Aqueduct.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Heart to Heart will attempt to make amends for the only blemish on his local record when he tops Saturday’s Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale. Heart to Heart has won four of his five starts over the Gulfstream Park turf course, with his lone setback here a fourth-place finish in the 2017 Fort Lauderdale. Heart to Heart will be making his first start since a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – All systems are still go for Stellar Wind to make the final start of her career in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup here Jan. 27.

Stellar Wind worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Palm Meadows on Sunday in company with stablemate Shagaf. It was her fifth work since joining trainer Chad Brown’s barn at Palm Meadows after being purchased by Coolmore as a broodmare prospect at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Betting handle in Maryland grew for the third consecutive year in 2017 when a total of $627.3 million was wagered. That is an increase of 12 percent from the 2016 figure of $560.1 million.

Handle at the Maryland Jockey Club tracks has improved each year since 2014. Beginning in 2015, The Stronach Group, which owns Laurel and Pimlico, began a major capital improvement program, especially at Laurel, which held 150 of the 162 live programs last year.

Several interestingly bred 3-year-old fillies are entered in race 4 at Laurel Park on Friday.

The Florida-based Jacks or Better Farm of Fred Brei has first-time starter Country Linedancer in the one-mile maiden race. A homebred daughter of the obscure Florida stallion Brooks ‘n Down, Country Linedancer is out of the mare Dame Sylvieguilhem, making her a half-sister to Ballet Diva and Redneck Humor. She is trained by Kenneth Decker.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Leavem in Malibu, who was under consideration for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup, had to be euthanized following a Monday workout at the Palm Meadows training center after suffering a catastrophic injury to a hind ankle.

Leavem in Malibu was galloping out following a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.40 when he broke down on the backstretch, said trainer Mark Casse. Efforts to save the 5-year-old horse were futile.

“I’m still in shock about it,” Casse said Wednesday. “It’s extremely sad and unfortunate.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine reported gains in all-sources handle for the third consecutive year after their 132-day meet ended on Dec. 10.

Woodbine recorded all-sources handle of $500,713,839 during the 2017 Thoroughbred meet, up 7.3 percent over 2016 with one fewer racing date. Woodbine also recorded a 1.7 percent increase in Standardbred handle over the 2017 calendar year.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Firenze Fire, the Grade 1 Champagne winner, was one of 18 horses credited with a timed workout Monday morning over the Belmont training track, the first time in four days the track was open.

Firenze Fire went a half-mile in 50.88 seconds in company with the 3-year-old maiden Daring Ego. Firenze Fire is expected to be a strong favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct. Firenze Fire had basically jogged in the shed for the last four days.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Life slowly returned to normal Monday morning on the Belmont Park backstretch after a winter storm and brutally cold temperatures canceled racing and training for four consecutive days. The weather knocked out power and created broken water pipes, which in turn displaced dozens of backstretch workers and some horses.