ARCADIA, Calif. – A day after she worked a slow half-mile at Santa Anita, Om N Joy was confirmed for her first start outside of California in Saturday’s Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland.

Trainer Aggie Ordonez and the partnership that owns Om N Joy – Connie and Jerry Baker, Michael Golovko, and Terrence Scanlan – debated Sunday whether to skip the $400,000 Raven Run in favor of a start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar but have opted for the trip to Kentucky.

Jockey Sahin Civaci, Canada’s 2024 Sovereign Award-winning rider, will begin riding in New York full-time beginning this week, according to Mike Sellitto, who will serve as his agent.

Civaci, currently third in the Woodbine standings with 89 wins, is named on one mount Friday and five on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Nutella Fella, the upset winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, is attempting another comeback.

Unraced since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 True North at Saratoga on June 7, Nutella Fella is being pointed to the Grade 3, $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 2. On Saturday at Saratoga, Nutella Fella worked a half-mile in 49.02 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, his fourth work since Sept. 20.

Trainer Gary Contessa said that Nutella Fella emerged from the True North with a foot abscess “that was deep embedded in his foot.”

Mo Plex, the Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner who finished seventh in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20, is targeting either the $250,000 Empire Classic on Oct. 25 or the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds for his next start, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Monday.

Englehart said the decision would come down to whichever he felt like was the “lighter race.”

The Empire Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles, is restricted to New York-breds but means facing older horses. The Dwyer, a one-turn mile, would give Mo Plex another chance to run in a race restricted to 3-year-olds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver, based primarily in Saratoga, is considering as many as four horses for Breeders’ Cup races.

Dorth Vader, beaten a nose by Thorpedo Anna, in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, is pointing to the $2 million Distaff. She worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds on Oct. 6 and is likely to have one more work in Saratoga before shipping to Del Mar on Oct. 22.

The remainder of Weaver’s contingent would not ship until Oct. 26, in part because he wants more clarity on whether they get into their respective races.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Frost gave way to fog, which ultimately gave way to bright sunshine and blue skies Friday morning in time for trainer Todd Pletcher to work three of his potential four Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders on a crisp morning in Saratoga.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Richard Mandella took a conservative outlook regarding his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Sunday, a day after Tamara easily won her 2025 debut in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita.

“I’ll have two good chances,” he said.

Make that two magnificent chances, or perhaps even great ones.

Tamara will be joined in the race by the three-time graded stakes winner Kopion, who was brilliant in winning the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs in May.