Battle of Normandy was rained out of his intended 4-year-old debut on April 10 when turf races at Keeneland were moved onto the main track. Alas, a similar fate might await the colt Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

Finger Lakes opens its 2024 live racing season with increased purses, a new announcer, and its longtime major events highlighting the stakes schedule.

The last time Living Magic came to New York, she won the Chelsey Flower Stakes at 16-1, bettors perhaps thrown off by a poor performance in her only previous start on the turf.

Turned out, Living Magic had an excuse in that prior turf run as she had scoped full of mucus after the race.

Sunday, Living Magic returns to New York for the $150,000 Memories of Silver Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going a mile at Aqueduct. Once again, she comes into the race off a poor result on turf, but the excuses are much more apparent.

Dandy Man Shines won the restricted Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar last fall by unleashing a late rally that carried him to the front in early stretch.

A change in tactics – racing closer to the front – led to a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 3.

For the 4-year-old gelding’s next start, an allowance race at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday, the former strategy will be utilized.

“He wants to lay back and make one run,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “I think he’s got as good a shot as anyone.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine’s road to the $1 million King’s Plate in August begins Sunday for Ontario-bred Midnight Mascot in the Woodstock Stakes, an open six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

Midnight Mascot is making his season debut for trainer Mark Casse, who said he’s bypassing the Woodstock with reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old My Boy Prince while pointing him to the restricted Queenston Stakes here June 9.

Puca is looking to make Kentucky Derby history when her son Dornoch starts in next Saturday’s spring classic. In a century and a half, no broodmare has ever produced multiple winners of the race. Puca, the dam of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, makes the attempt with that colt’s full brother.

“We’re talking against the odds here,” said Robert Clay, who bred both Mage and Dornoch in the name of Grandview Equine before selling Puca to John Stewart’s Resolute Farm last fall. “It would just be unbelievable. It would be incredible. It would be a great thrill for us.”

Choose Joy figures to be among the favorites in the $75,000 Golden Beach on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. After all, the 7-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Munnings has finished first or second in all 11 of her starts going the five-furlong distance of the Golden Beach, and they all came over the Gulfstream Park turf course.

An overnight handicap, the Golden Beach attracted nine older fillies and mares, with Choose Joy assigned to be the highweight at 122 pounds. It goes as race 9 on a 10-race program that kicks off at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saturday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park is a very good one for this time of the season, featuring a pair of overnight handicaps and a trio of solid allowance races – the perfect time to offer fans another mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6. The bet figures to offer a carryover in the neighborhood of $400,000 and a final pool somewhere in the vicinity of $3.5 million to $4 million if not solved by single winning ticket either Thursday or Friday.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hoosier Philly will have a number of key variables in her favor Saturday when she makes her second start of the year in the $200,000 Dig A Diamond Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The race is one of two stakes on the program. Valentine Candy will be looking for his fourth stakes win at the meet in the $200,000 Bachelor. Post time for the 11-race card is 12:30 p.m. Central.