Life Is Good passed his first two-turn test and improved to 2-for-2 in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Jan. 2, though a diminishing three-quarter of a length margin of victory suggests the 3-year-old may still be in need of fine-tuning.

Anothertwistafate entered the $201,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park with a dirt graded victory and a synthetic stakes win on his résumé and added a turf score to his record when he opened up in the nine-furlong event.

In the most dramatic fashion imaginable Jan. 2, Daniel Centeno joined an exclusive fraternity, earning career victory No. 3,000 in North America.

Mutasaabeq pressed pace-setting Awesome Gerry before jockey Luis Saez guided him to the front leaving the quarter pole and registered a 1 1/2-length victory over Papetu in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand have each enjoyed exceptional years in the saddle, and the final hours of 2020 had one last magic moment in store for them as they announced their engagement on social media. 

Newtown Anner Stud Farm’s Perpetrate emerged from a three-way photo finish a head in front Jan. 2 at Laurel Park to give jockey Carol Cedeno her 1,000th career victory.

Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said he is consistently impressed with how much racehorses remember, from a groom they have not seen in years to a former stablemate, like Sun King, from the old barn.

Michael Dubb’s Pete’s Play Call started his 8-year-old campaign the same way he concluded 2020, saving his best for the stretch to win the 62nd running of the $97,000 Gravesend Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 2. 

Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team tuned up for a planned start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) with a bullet five-furlong workout Jan. 2 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Catemaco, who nearly died as a  foal, rewarded his breeder, trainer, and co-owner, Kristin Mulhall, by winning his debut Jan. 1 at Santa Anita Park in the day’s sixth race, a $62,500 maiden special weight.

Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto’s Capo Kane will look to make his next start in the 1 1/8-mile, $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Racing Jan. 1 in the $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park, late-running Hembree went from last to first to defeat True Valour by three-quarters of a length.

Jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis received a surprising wedding “present” earlier this week.

New York has its own road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), but it seems to be running through Bensalem, Pa.

Breeze Easy’s Imprimis made a triumphant return to action at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1, following up a troubled trip in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) with a gutsy victory over Extravagant Kid in the $75,000 Janus Stakes.

Joe Keappock, successful breeder from his Dunsany Stud in Meath and from a prominent Navan family, has died after a short illness.

Luis Leon, a popular former rider and jockeys’ room valet in California, died Dec. 29, according to his son, David. He was 90.

Andrew Lerner didn’t go on a honeymoon after he got married Dec. 27. The 31-year-old trainer will celebrate later, but he could get an early start if longshot Uncle Boogie wins the Sham Stakes (G3) Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

There will be a new slant for the sixth annual Jockeys and Jeans Great American Stallion Season Sale to benefit The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, bringing together Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Stallions in a single sale. 

Rogers replaces veteran Mark Loewe, who retired from a 42-year career in December.