Sharp Cat had her first work for new trainer Wally Dollase, which was also her first work since the December 7 walkover in the Bayakoa Handicap. She is heading for the Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I) on February 14 .

Wild Rush skipped the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) because his quarter crack is bothering him. It was sustained in the Laz Barrera Stakes last November, a race in which Wild Rush finished third.

Free House has not been training as well as conditioner Paco Gonzalez would like. A nuclear scan showed no abnormalities, but Free House will not return to the races until the summer.

Crypto Star, fifth in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) on December 26, will be out until April after injuring his right front high suspensory ligament.

Deputy Commander will skip the Strub Stakes (gr. II) and try to hit a double by winning the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) on March 7 and the Dubai World Cup on March 28.

The Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. III) at six furlongs on January 31 will be Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) champion Elmhurst's first race of 1998. His shoes have been changed back to glue-ons and he is back in training. Palos Verdes hopefuls include Apalachee Ridge and Swiss Yodeler, sixth and second, respectively, in the Malibu, Paying Dues, Red, and Surachai. Tower Full has opted for the February 1 Bay Meadows Express instead.

Northern Afleet will stretch out this year, and try turf.

Pacificbounty came down with a temperature and had to miss some training.

Maxzene, who finished second to Eclipse-Award winner Ryafan in the Matriarch Stakes (gr. I) in her last race, will return in an allowance race in early February. Trainer Tom Skiffington has been jogging her two miles and galloping one mile every day, and she'll have her first breeze next week. Skiffington is also the new trainer of another nice turf filly, Famous Digger.

Trainer Shug McGaughey has been patiently bringing Glitter Woman back to the races. One of the top fillies of last year, the 4-year-old had a chip removed after the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) last May. Glitter Woman's 1998 debut was a victory in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on January 14.

The newly turned 3-year-olds are heading for various races. At Santa Anita, the Santa Catalina Stakes on February 1 is looking to be the place we will find Orville N Wilbur's, Real Quiet, and Artax. A week later, the San Vicente Stakes is drawing Iron Cat, Rio Oro, Liquid Gold, Search Me, and undefeated Sea of Secrets. Old Trieste is being pointed toward the San Rafael Stakes on March 1. Bob Baffert has not decided in which race his collection of notable 3-year-olds, Pleasant Drive, Souvenir Copy, and Indian Charlie will run. Futuristic is headed north to the Golden Gate Mile at Bay Meadows on February 16. And Wayne Lukas' Grand Slam could go in the San Rafael or the March 14 San Felipe Stakes, depending on how the colt's training is going. He just arrived from the farm to Lukas' barn after recuperating from a gashed tendon sustained in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

At Gulfstream Park, the 3-year-olds are already running. Cape Town won the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) over Comic Strip and Sweetsouthernsaint on Saturday. Lil's Lad is being pointed toward the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) on January 31. Even though Lil's Lad won an allowance race already at Gulfstream as his 3-year-old debut, trainer Neil Howard is cautious about his colt's readiness. Other colts headed toward the Hutcheson are Time Limit, Coronado's Quest, Dawson's Legacy, Hitech, and Zippy Zeal.

Of the 3-year-old fillies to watch, Vivid Angel and Superlative are being pointed for the January 25 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita, and Love Lock is going for the February 15 Las Virgenes Stakes.

Pat Day is the new regular rider for Sweetsouthernsaint.

Jerry Bailey will ride Skip Away for trainer Sonny Hine all year.

Flag Down is in training at Payson Park in Florida getting ready fot eh Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) and the Pan American Handicap (gr. II).

Bagshot, a stakes-placed son of Free House's sire, Smokester, has not run since finishing eighth in Free House's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) last year. He is in training and returned in the Sensational Star Handicap for California-breds on January 18.