Less than two months after winning the Kentucky Derby for the fifth time, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has been named to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, it was announced this week by the Louisville Sports Commission. Baffert became just the second trainer to sweep the Triple Crown twice when Justify won the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

Joining Baffert in a group of seven honorees are Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the Nicholasville, Ky., couple who are perennial leading owners and breeders in Kentucky.

It wasn’t long ago that many Kentucky trainers, out of economic necessity, would take their stables out of state for July and August. The purse structure at Ellis Park wasn’t sufficient to make staying put feasible, so Saratoga or Delaware or Arlington became their summer homes.

For the first time in three years, Del Mar will have a different board of stewards for its summer meeting, which begins on July 18.

John Herbuveaux, a steward at Golden Gate Fields in recent months, will replace Scott Chaney for the seven-week meeting, according to California Horse Racing Board executive director Rick Baedeker.

Justify has resumed galloping at Santa Anita and could have a workout as soon as next week.

The Triple Crown winner has impressed trainer Bob Baffert with his condition and exercise in recent days.

“We used to say he looks like a million dollars, but we can’t say that anymore,” Baffert said. “He looks incredible. He looks healthy, and he’s moving well.”

CHICAGO – The Illinois Racing Board during a regular monthly meeting Tuesday voted 7-0 to create a committee to help formulate rules that would govern the implementation of historical horse racing machines at Hawthorne Racecourse near Chicago and Fairmount Park near St. Louis.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Grade 2 Princess Rooney is one of only three races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series providing a fees-paid berth into the Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3, and the only one until the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 25. But even with the added incentive of a $250,000 purse, the race drew a field of only eight on Wednesday, including defending winner Curlin’s Approval, as the highlight of Saturday’s Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park.

Bill Mott has returned the rented formalwear for his trip to Royal Ascot, which must mean it’s time to turn the page and move onto the next chapter of Yoshida’s career.

Yoshida, with Mott in attendance, finished a respectable fifth last week in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of the Royal Ascot meeting, and Thursday was to be his first day back training with Mott’s string at Saratoga.

“He’s back and doing well,” Mott said Wednesday.

Mocito Rojo ran the race of his life Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, getting the jump on 2-5 favorite Dazzling Gem in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile and scoring a 1 3/4-length victory. Mocito Rojo was 10-1 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“He ran a big one,” said trainer Shane Wilson.

Mocito Rojo won his first stakes in the Evangeline Mile. Earlier in the meet, he captured an optional $30,000 claiming race at the same distance in a sharp 1:37.53. His final time Saturday was 1:37.69.

The Downs at Albuquerque has been riding a wave of momentum the last few years and on Friday night will open its 55-date meet with record stakes purses, large fields, and a new starter series that features New Mexico’s longest race for Thoroughbreds.

The Downs at Albuquerque, which races through Sept. 23, also is housing Jessies First Down, the two-time reigning world champion Quarter Horse.

Andesh, an Irish-bred colt who finished second to Mendelssohn in a maiden race last year, recently joined trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable and is scheduled to have his American debut in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Del Mar on July 18.

Andesh has one win in five starts, having won a maiden race on the all-weather surface at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland last October. River Boyne, a two-time stakes winner on turf at Santa Anita this year, finished fourth in that race.

Andesh, by Medicean, was previously trained by Michael Halford.