CYPRESS, Calif. – Los Alamitos canceled the final six races on Friday’s program after jockeys told track officials that excessive heat was causing difficulties for horses.

Darrell Haire, the western regional manager of the Jockey’s Guild, said he spoke with riders after the second race and that he was told the heat had intensified between the first two races. At 2:30 p.m., the temperature was approximately 107 degrees, according to accuweather.com.

“They told me a couple of horses were struggling when they were coming back,” Haire said.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Up the Ante, the 3 1/2-length winner of Wednesday’s $100,000 Manila Stakes for 3-year-olds, will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3, trainer Christophe Clement said Friday.

Up the Ante went gate to wire under Javier Castellano in the Manila, easily defeating heavily favored Raging Bull, the 1-2 favorite.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association will increase purses while also reconfiguring purse distribution when the Saratoga meet opens July 20.

Purses for maiden, allowance, starter allowance, and most claiming races for winners will each increase by $2,000, according to Martin Panza, senior director of racing operations for the New York Racing Association.

“The purse account is very healthy at the moment. It’s time to disperse some of that money,” Panza said. “We’re generating more than we’re giving out.”

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was back at his Belmont Park barn Friday, just four days after he underwent heart surgery to have two stents put in following a heart attack.

Jerkens was in good spirits and is looking forward to the upcoming Saratoga meet. One horse he is expected to run there is Delta Prince, who came off a near 10-month layoff to win the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes under Javier Castellano at Woodbine last Saturday.

After dueling and fading while racing on the inside in the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes last out, Golden Mischief got a comfortable outside trip and easily won the $100,000 Saylorville Stakes on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows. She ran six furlongs in 1:09.49 and got a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, the second-highest of her career.

“I think she prefers being outside horses,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She’s a really nice filly.”

Mr. Jagermeister barely turned a hair in winning the Victor S. Myers Stakes on Wednesday at Canterbury Park by more than six lengths under Leandro Goncalves. He got a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 for what amounted to a glorified workout.

“I’d discussed with Leandro the fact he was running back on 10 days’ rest,” said trainer Valorie Lund. “I said he was going to win the race, so just use what you need to win.”

The eye-catching win by She’s a Julie on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows in the Iowa Oaks was a long time in coming.

“We’ve been waiting for it for a year and a half,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains She’s a Julie for Carrol Castille’s Whispering Oaks Farm.

It took a couple of tries but the $75,000 Mecke Stakes will finally take center stage, five days later than originally planned, when it tops Sunday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park. The Mecke drew a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and will be decided at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

The Mecke failed to attract sufficient entries when originally scheduled to be run on Wednesday’s Fourth of July card

CYPRESS, Calif. – The popular 10-year-old stakes winner Soi Phet may have as many as two starts at the Del Mar summer meeting following his nose win in Wednesday’s Bertrando Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Leonard Powell said he is considering the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for Cal-breds at 1 1/16 miles on turf and the $75,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile on dirt Aug. 22 for Soi Phet. If one race is chosen, the Brubaker is more likely, he said.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly Separationofpowers makes her 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park.

Separationofpowers, who won the Grade 1 Frizette last October here, has not run since she finished fourth behind Caledonia Road in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She finds a difficult spot for her return, facing Mia Mischief, the dominant winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles last out at Churchill Downs.