Albarado to make return Saturday at Kentucky Downs

Robby Albarado is set to return to action Saturday at Kentucky Downs after being sidelined 10 weeks by a wrist injury suffered in a June 23 spill at Churchill Downs. Albarado, 45, has a new agent in Rocco O’Connor, who has served this summer as the paddock analyst at Ellis while continuing to represent jockey Chantal Sutherland.

Before the spill, Albarado, a winner of 5,188 races in a career of nearly three decades, had Jake Romans as his agent. Romans is working for Martin Chuan and Channing Hill.

Also, the Florida-based agent Kevin Meyocks began working for Chris Landeros this week. Meyocks will continue to represent the hot apprentice Cristian Torres at Gulfstream.

20-stall gate being considered for Derby

Churchill officials traveled last week to York Racecourse in England to make inquiries about possibly obtaining a larger starting gate to accommodate the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby. A 24-stall gate is used at York.

Churchill has used two gates (one of 14 stalls and another of six stalls) for the Derby but has come under criticism in recent years because the gap between the two gates makes for a greater possibility of contact among horses shortly after the break.

Ellis meet ends Monday

The final three-day stretch of the Ellis summer meet begins Friday with a nine-race card and a tight race atop the jockey standings. Corey Lanerie leads with 22 wins, followed closely by James Graham with 21 and Tyler Baze with 20.

Widespread flooding last Friday forced Ellis to cancel, reducing the 2019 meet to 27 dates. The western Kentucky track will be dark Saturday to accommodate the Kentucky Downs opener, then wrap up with Sunday and Monday cards. First post daily is 12:50 p.m. Central.

◗ Mr. Money, a winner of four straight Grade 3 stakes, stayed sharp for his next start in the Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby by going five furlongs in a minute flat Wednesday over a fast Churchill track.

◗ Randy Morse is nearing a career milestone. Morse, a trainer since 1981, began this week with 995 wins.