Top Winter Meets Only Weeks Away...

Nine stalls are locked in by Herringswell colored cross bars at Santa Anita. 20 (as of the moment) are secured at Palm Meadows. Both winter getaway locations are spots where the best of the best go when the northern temperature drops.

On the west coast, at "The Great Race Place", nine serious bullets fill out the barn.

2-year-old fillies, Zilva and Smart Seattle have resumed training after their efforts in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile Fillies Turf respectively.

Cherokee Artist (pictured), who has not raced since capturing the Presque Isle Mile in September, plans to make a return to the races during the Santa Anita meeting. Yorktown, an unlucky fourth in a third-level allowance also remains out west.

Fresh off her win in the Starine Stakes at Hollywood, California-bred Saucey Evening (bottom) will point towards Sunshine Millions day on January 30.

Smart Bid also comes out of a stake win. The 3-year-old Smart Strike colt looks to run in either the Grade I Malibu on December 27 or the Grade III Sir Beaufort on the same day. Smart Bid's half-brother is Deal Making. Deal Making, a 4-year-old Empire Maker gelding also will call California his winter home.

Three-year-olds Gustavian and Snowmaster round out the barn. The duo both tallied wins at the recently completed Keeneland fall meet

Of the 20 stalls at Palm Meadows, eleven are filled with 2-year-olds. Winners Cat Park, Check The Label, Peace Fire and Vamos A Ver lead the Florida string of Juveniles.

The lone runner at a Florida track up to this point is Shehashighhopes. The High Yield three-year-old comfortably broke her maiden at Calder in a Maiden Claiming $25,000.

The Gulfstream Park meeting begins Sunday January 3.