ARCADIA, Calif. – Draft Pick won an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Saturday in his first start of the year, and is likely to run in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 20.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Omaha Beach, unraced since winning the Arkansas Derby on April 13, resumed racetrack exercise on Friday for the first time since undergoing surgery for an entrapped epiglottis that caused him to be withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby last month.

Omaha Beach returned to trainer Richard Mandella’s stable earlier this month and underwent a precautionary throat inspection before he returned training.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mucho Gusto won consecutive stakes for the first time in his career in Sunday’s Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

In doing so, the colt likely earned a trip to the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20, one of the nation’s premier summertime stakes for 3-year-olds.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Queen Bee to You, second in two stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita earlier this year, was recently transferred to trainer Andrew Lerner after previous trainer Michael Pender was given a 30-day suspension earlier this month for animal welfare violations.

In a ruling issued on June 7, Santa Anita stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui and Kim Sawyer suspended Pender from June 14 to July 13 for issues involving the condition of the gelding New Karma.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Seven horses were scratched at Santa Anita on Friday and Saturday and two were excluded from being entered for Sunday’s races by a five-person panel of veterinarians and stewards formed last week to conduct more stringent inspections of horses in the aftermath of 29 equine fatalities since late December.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rafael Bejarano was the deserving recipient of ample praise in the Santa Anita stables on Sunday, a day after the 36-year-old veteran won the 4,000th race of his career in North America.

Bejarano had a three-win day on Saturday, and the middle victory of the sequence – aboard Portal Creek in the third race – was the milestone victory. He later won his 4,001st race on the promising 5-year-old gelding Desert Law in the $100,351 Thor’s Echo Stakes for statebred sprinters.

Lone Star Park near Dallas was forced to cancel its fourth through ninth races Sunday due to a sudden, severe rainstorm. The weather moved in during the third race, after its running the track imposed a delay due to the rains.  

However, officials later made the decision to cancel the remainder of the card due to the amount of rain that hit in a short period of time. 

It is the second weather-related cancellation of the meet, behind May 18. Racing is scheduled to resume Thursday night. 

Bruce Swihart will retire as chief executive officer of Fonner Park on July 31, the Nebraksa track announced Wednesday. Swihart, 67, has worked for Fonner for 43 years. His father, Al Swihart, was the track’s general manager from 1956 until his death in 1983.

Chris Kotulak, who last year was brought on as chief operating officer of Fonner, will take over as CEO following Swihart’s departure, according to a press release from Fonner.

Casey Lambert and his father, Cliff Lambert, are in a tight race for the Thoroughbred training title at Ruidoso Downs. The Lamberts have followed identical career paths in racing, competing as jockeys before turning to training. Both will be active at the New Mexico track on Father’s Day.

Casey Lambert, 53, leads the standings with a 7-for-31 record through Thursday and will saddle Wilmas Irish Rover in the $30,000 Ruidoso Sprint Handicap. Cliff Lambert, 82, ranks third in the standings with a 5-for-12 record and will send out Eyesa Flashy Jess in the sixth race Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calf. – Glen Hill Farm is taking its horses out of California and will not have a stable at the upcoming Del Mar meet, according to owner Craig Bernick.

In a phone interview this week, Bernick cited the uncertainty surrounding California racing as the primary reason.

Glen Hill has had runners this meet at Santa Anita, which has made national news this year after a series of equine fatalities since late December.