Barnes has slipped in popularity, partly based on a disappointing blinkers-off workout Sunday at Santa Anita. Barnes was outworked by Rodriguez, a stablemate he defeated by more than nine lengths while finishing second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1.

The tables turned in the workout. Barnes pressed Rodriguez from the outside, but Barnes could not get past his rival and pulled up soon after the finish while Rodriguez went another furlong. It was a puzzling work by Barnes, five furlongs in 1:00.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The racing week at Santa Anita begins Friday with a carryover of $71,789 in the $2 pick six.

The bet proved too difficult to hit Sunday after upset wins by Wink And a Nod ($93) in the seventh race and Simplexity ($13.80) in the ninth and final race.

There were two horses covered in the pick six in Sunday’s ninth race. Mega Moon, who finished second, would have resulted in a pick six payout had he won the turf sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With his first win as a 4-year-old in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes on Saturday, Atitlan confirmed his affection for Santa Anita’s turf course and showed he can run an extended distance of 1 1/2 miles.

Atitlan won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita last October for his first stakes win. His next assignment is likely to be at 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on May 3.

“That seems like good timing,” trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday morning. “I don’t think he has distance limitations.”

It was sunny and brisk at Turfway Park on Saturday as Bless the Broken won the Bourbonette Oaks to punch her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks, but trainer Will Walden will be doing a rain dance on the first Friday in May.

“She’s really, really taken to that,” Walden said. “She ran really good in the slop. She’s always kind of shown an affinity for it. We’re kind of hoping for that, but we’ll run either way. She’s done nothing wrong, and she’s shown up every single time.”

Final Gambit wasn’t necessarily nominated to Turfway Park’s marquee card last Saturday with the intention of earning a Kentucky Derby berth.

Juddmonte general manager Garrett O’Rourke said trainer Brad Cox felt the homebred colt, who had made his three prior starts at a mile, would appreciate the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby, a Kentucky Derby prep. If he did not get into what was expected to be a full field, they would reroute to the Rushaway Stakes – a race that does not offer Derby points – at 1 1/16 miles.