OLDSMAR, Fla. - Mark Casse has done a terrific job keeping his two 3-year-old turf fillies Nitrogen and Vixen apart this winter and they have combined to win four stakes races. Now they are likely to wind up in the same races with both aiming at the Grade 2, $500,000 Appalachian Stakes on April 5 followed by the Grade 2, $600,000 Edgewood on May 2. 

“Our hopes and plans were for them to meet there, that was one of the reasons we separated them early on,” said Casse, who trains both fillies for D J Stable. “[The Appalachian] is a huge race, it leads to the Edgewood.” 

OLDSMAR, Fla. - When it comes time to sit down with his owners to discuss future plans for Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty, trainer Brian Lynch will have plenty of evidence to make his case for running him in the Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile instead of the $5 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on May 3. 

But will it be enough to cure that sometimes dreaded disease known as Derby Fever? 

Jockey C.J. McMahon was transported to a local hospital on Saturday in the aftermath of a spill in Oaklawn Park’s third race, in which two other riders and the three horses involved all appeared to have escaped serious injuries. 

McMahon was awake and moving and complaining of back pain, said agent Anthony Martin, who was awaiting further updates. The stewards later received word McMahon had two fractured ribs. 

The stakes program for the Belmont at Aqueduct spring/summer meet, to be conducted in three parts, will have a somewhat different look to it in 2025.

Despite the fact eight stakes were furloughed for this year - including the Grade 2 Brooklyn - there will be 55 stakes worth $17.25 million offered over 37 cards from May 1 through July 6 compared to 56 stakes worth $16.85 million in 2024.

Of those 37 racing programs, 28 will be held at Aqueduct and nine at Saratoga.

Four trainers based out of Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania have been charged with multiple violations of a rule prohibiting intra-articular injections of corticosteroids within prescribed stand-down periods before races or workouts, according to records posted on the website of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit. 

Every race fan has a favorite phrase made popular by track announcer Trevor Denman, who announced his retirement on Thursday from calling the action at the Del Mar summer meetings.

If your pick was “moving like a winner,” rest assured there would be a payoff.

Opening day at Del Mar each July had a common phrase to describe the start of the first race: “There’s the roar from the crowd.”

There always was a hearty cheer from an enthusiastic crowd.