OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After missing the Grade 1 Carter due to a temperature, the Grade 3 stakes winner Runninsonofagun will use a third-level/optional $80,000 claiming race Thursday at Aqueduct to prepare for a return to stakes company later this spring.

The six-furlong race is carded as race 3, making it the first leg of a pick six on an eight-race program that begins the day with a $37,483 carryover after the wager went unhit Sunday. Seven were entered for this race, but trainer David Jacobson named Javier Castellano on both Synthesis and Stage Left, so one will have to scratch.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After absorbing approximately 30 inches of rain in less than a 48 hour period last week, and lying dormant ever since, the Gulfstream Park turf course is expected to reopen, weather permitting, when racing resumes Thursday.

This should come as good news to the connections of the nine 3-year-old fillies entered in the afternoon’s main event to be decided at a mile under first-level allowance and optional-claiming conditions for horses competing under a $75,000 price tag.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Born into a racing family, Sean Feld has experienced a lifetime of racetrack adventuring in his 36-plus years on the planet. Aside from visiting dozens of venues in the U.S., Feld also has enjoyed a day (or night) of racing at tracks in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

“I keep a spreadsheet listing them all,” Feld said. “It’s in the triple digits.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Joe Rocco Jr. was sidelined three months this winter because of a hand fracture suffered in a starting gate incident Dec. 9 at Turfway Park. Rocco was aboard Praise and Honor when the mare broke through the gate prematurely, throwing the 40-year-old jockey.

“She only got loose for a few yards before the outrider caught her,” said Rocco. “I injured my hand, so they had to get another rider,” John McKee, who then guided her to a fourth-place finish.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Older horses going a distance of ground will occupy the spotlight Saturday at Keeneland in a pair of graded races, the Grade 2 Elkhorn on turf and the Grade 3 Ben Ali on the main track.

The $350,000 Elkhorn will be run at the three-turn distance of 1 1/2 miles, with the $300,000 Ben Ali going 1 1/8 miles around two turns.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Classic-placed Creative Minister makes his second start off a layoff in a Thursday allowance at Keeneland, looking to recapture his winning form of last spring.

Thursday’s eighth race on a nine-race program is a second-level allowance-optional claiming race at 1 1/8 miles with a purse of $120,000. The card features a pick six carryover of $226,155. The pick six starts with the fourth race (approximate post, 2:36 p.m. Eastern).

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Pats Property has outrun longshot odds on multiple occasions, but on Sunday could go favored in the eighth race at Oaklawn Park. The first-level allowance is for 4-year-olds and up at a mile.

Pats Property finished a close second at this level at 24-1 on April 2.

“We’re hoping he runs the same race back,” said co-owner and trainer John Haran. “I think he’ll be tough if he does.”

Pats Property led to the late stages in the 1 1/16-mile race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85. He shares the highest last-race number in the field with Ten Gauge.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sunday’s main event at Gulfstream Park is a $51,000 allowance and optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up that is carded to be run at five furlongs on the turf. Although, with Gulfstream and the surrounding area having being inundated with more than 30 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday, there is a good chance the headliner will be switched to the same distance over the synthetic Tapeta course.

A change in surface could prove to the advantage of likely favorites Hope in Him and Unsociable.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher has used the word “perfect” many times in describing how things have progressed over the last several months for his reigning juvenile champion Forte as he prepares for his role as the favorite on May 6 at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby.

Just how perfect?

So perfect, even Mother Nature couldn’t prevent Forte from remaining right on schedule and getting in his final South Florida workout as planned Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs along with another key Derby contender in stablemate Kingsbarns.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Evvie Jets will look to use her apparent pace advantage to overcome a layoff and some classy-looking opponents when she runs in Sunday’s $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct.

In a field of six scheduled to run one mile on turf, Evvie Jets looks like the lone speed. Her four career victories have come when she’s raced on or close to the pace, including a 1 1/4-length victory in last October’s Grade 3 Noble Damsel going a mile here.