WHO’S HOT

Two changes to the claiming rules in Pennsylvania take effect Saturday. The new rules will apply to races at Parx Racing, Penn National, and Presque Isle Downs.

The claim protection window, during which claimed horses must be raised 25 percent or more in price, is being shortened from 30 days to 20. A horse claimed for a price of $10,000, for example, previously could only run back in a $12,500 claiming race or higher for 30 days. That same horse will now be able to run for any claiming price after 20 days.

Indiana Grand during it’s 2019 racing season will host 35 stakes races worth $4.3 million, the track announced in a press release.

That’s the same number and value as the 2018 stakes program at the Shelbyville, Ind., racino, which opens its mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing season April 16.

Javier Castellano has picked up the mount on Hidden Scroll for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 30, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday.

Hidden Scroll most recently finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 2 at Gulfstream after setting a swift early pace. He was ridden in that race and his only other start – a runaway victory against maidens in January at Gulfstream – by Joel Rosario, but Mott said days after the Fountain of the Youth that Rosario would be replaced and listed the mount as undecided.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The main track at Santa Anita reopened to favorable reviews this week for light training, and officials announced that timed workouts on the main track would resume on Wednesday morning.

Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of Santa Anita owner The Stronach Group, expressed confidence in the condition and safety of the main track in a brief interview early Tuesday. The main track opened Monday for joggers and gallopers, light training continued Tuesday.

Chocolate Kisses is headed for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ashland at Keeneland, trainer Mark Casse said Monday. The race will be run April 6.

Chocolate Kisses put up the best Beyer Speed Figure of her career, an 82, on Saturday when the multiple turf winner won on dirt for the first time in the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn. For the effort, she picked up 50 points for the Kentucky Oaks.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Mark Casse has had a hot hand with 3-year-olds this meet at Oaklawn Park, and he’ll attempt to add to his local stakes success Saturday with Our Braintrust in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel.

Casse has won two-thirds of the local series for 3-year-old fillies this meet, courtesy of Power Gal, who captured the Martha Washington in February, and Chocolate Kisses, who won the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee here Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It almost seemed like business as usual early Monday morning at Santa Anita, where the main track opened for training for the first time in six days.

Yet even before veteran mare Paddy Jean stepped onto the track at 5 a.m. and became the first horse to gallop or jog on the main oval since it was closed last week, reminders were everywhere that the environment has changed.

Monomoy Girl, champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, didn’t post a timed workout this past weekend after breezing the three previous Sundays, but trainer Brad Cox said there’s nothing amiss with the filly. Monomoy Girl galloped instead of working and is expected to work again Saturday.

“I just thought I’d give her another week, give her a little more space between her works,” Cox said Sunday. “We’re happy where we are right now, and the plan is to work next weekend.”

Serengeti Empress went into the Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds with just three timed workouts for her first start in more than three months. She came out of it a 4 1/2-length winner, and the 91 Beyer Speed Figure her performance produced is as high as any 3-year-old filly has earned in a dirt race at one mile or longer so far this year.