OLDSMAR, Fla. – Folks get tired of the same-old-same-old, which is one reason the Kentucky Derby result last year was so refreshing. The connections of 80-1 winner Rich Strike were unknowns in racing, their stories a welcome change.

One can imagine how Derby fans, through the years, grew weary of hearing about Colonel Bradley, then Calumet Farm and the Jones Boys, then Lukas and Zito, and now Baffert and Pletcher. People do embrace the novelty of a Derby stranger, if only as a diversion from a worn-out script.

WHO’S HOT

Horses from the barns of Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher, and Bob Baffert make up 28 percent of the 369 horses made early nominees to this year’s Triple Crown.
The 369 nominees, which includes a record 37 horses based in Japan, represents an 18.2 percent increase from the 312 nominated last year.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Charge It’s much anticipated comeback was an unequivocal success Sunday at Gulfstream Park, where he took a measured 1 1/2-length victory over Vittorio in the afternoon’s $87,000 allowance feature run under light showers over a racetrack upgraded from sloppy earlier in the day to good at post time.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After finishing second with 10 of his first 26 starters at Aqueduct’s winter meet, trainer Rob Atras enjoyed a frustration-free Sunday by sending out four winners from as many starters on the 10-race card.

Atras won the first with the 3-year-old maiden filly Balpool ($9.50), the fourth with Jake Rocks ($7.40), the fifth with Cool Quartet ($5.30) and the eighth with Funny Joke ($3.20).

Pat Kelly turned 75 on Sunday. It’s the second milestone he has achieved in the last six weeks.

Kelly, a son of Hall of Fame trainer Tommy “T.J.” Kelly, who enjoyed a good career of his own, retired from training after 45 years.

LOUISIVILLE, Ky. – A two-day hearing in a U.S. District Court to weigh arguments on whether Churchill Downs can continue to ban trainer Bob Baffert from this year’s Kentucky Derby concluded Friday afternoon, and a decision on a request by Baffert’s attorneys for a temporary injunction is expected within the next several weeks, if not sooner.

LOUISVILLE Ky. -- A hearing on Thursday afternoon in a Louisville courtroom to consider a motion for preliminary injunction that would prevent Churchill Downs from banning the trainer Bob Baffert from this year’s Kentucky Derby was continued into Friday after the sides were unable to conclude their arguments.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Live racing at Aqueduct Friday and Saturday has been canceled due to forecasted cold conditions, the New York Racing Association announced Thursday.

According to the National Weather Service, wind-chill values will be between zero and 10 degrees on Friday with wind gusts above 35 miles per hour. On Saturday, the forecast calls for wind-chill values between 8 and 10 degrees with sustained winds. Training Saturday morning has also been canceled.

A proposed budget released on Wednesday by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul included an item that would allow the state to issue bonds that would be used to fund the complete renovation of Belmont Park.

The inclusion of the bond issue is a major breakthrough for the New York Racing Association, which has said that the only viable option for funding the renovation is state-backed bonds. NYRA has been lobbying for the proposal for several years.