ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Skywire, who went off as the favorite in the $1 million Queen’s Plate on June 29, will run back in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on dirt July 23 at Fort Erie, trainer Mark Casse said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Tyler Gaffalione knows how to make a good first impression.

Last fall, riding full-time at Keeneland and Churchill Downs for the first time, Gaffalione was the leading rider at both meets. This spring, in his first time riding the Preakness Stakes, Gaffalione won the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown aboard War of Will.

David O’Rourke was named New York Racing Association CEO and president on March 26 after serving that role on an interim basis for two months following the resignation of Chris Kay. O’Rourke has been with NYRA since 2008, first as director of financial planning then vice president for corporate development. In 2013, he was appointed senior vice president/chief revenue officer. In that role, he developed NYRA’s business strategies in a variety of areas, including industry relations, simulcasting, television, and account wagering.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018, is expected to have his first start since the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby where he will be a massive favorite in the $150,000 race.

Over the weekend, trainer Bob Baffert said he planned to have two runners and is considering starting Kingly, who won the California Derby in April at Golden Gate Fields. The race drew only six nominations, but there is a $4,000 supplemental stage at entry time Wednesday.

The record will show that trainer Bill Mott’s 2-year-old class of 2018 produced the first- and third-place finishers of the 2019 Kentucky Derby. While neither Country House nor Tacitus made to the races until the fall, Mott’s three wins with 2-year-olds at the 2018 Saratoga meet equaled his most productive showing in that category since 2007, when he won 11 juvenile races at the Spa.

Jockey Jose Ferrer will be sidelined approximately four weeks, according to doctors at the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J., after sustaining a cervical spinous process fracture to his upper spine and neck area, his agent, Steve Worsley, said Sunday evening.

Ferrer was injured in race 4 at Monmouth Park when his mount, Metallic, broke down nearing the far turn of the one-mile, $12,500 claiming race. Ferrer was thrown hard to the ground, and then The Best Candy, who was immediately behind him, fell over Metallic.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jose Lezcano’s decision to stay in New York last winter continues to pay dividends this spring and summer as he captured the Belmont Park riding title with 44 victories, one more than Luis Saez.

Jose Ortiz finished third in the standings with 40 wins, one more than his brother Irad Ortiz Jr. and Joel Rosario, who tied for fourth with 39 wins apiece.

Lezcano’s $3.34 million in purse earnings were fourth-best behind Rosario, who had $4.22 million, aided largely by his victory aboard Sir Winston in the Belmont Stakes.

About 12 hours after she won the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, Concrete Rose left Belmont Park by van for Saratoga where she was bedded down by late Sunday morning.

Trainer Rusty Arnold said provided all goes well over the next four weeks, Concrete Rose will run in the inaugural $750,000 Saratoga Oaks on Aug. 2. That race is run at 1 3/16 miles.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Henley’s Joy appears to be a horse who thrives on racing and he most likely will make his seventh start of the year in the $1 million Saratoga Derby on Aug. 4, trainer Mike Maker said Sunday morning.

Henley’s Joy ended a five-race losing streak with a three-quarter-length victory over Social Paranoia in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby. Maker, who was in Kentucky over the weekend, said all reports are the horse came out of the race in good order.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After making a successful stakes debut winning Saturday’s Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban Stakes, Preservationist will now move north to Saratoga where he most likely will skip the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 3 and point to the Grade 1 Woodward on Aug. 31.

Preservationist earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his 4 1/2-length victory over Catholic Boy in the Suburban and running back in four weeks off a lifetime-best figure may not be prudent.

“Most likely won’t go there,” Jerkens said of the Whitney.