OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association has launched a new podcast, “Across the Board With Andy Serling.”

The podcast will appear in regular installments throughout the year, featuring interesting personalities in racing. The debut episode features Harvey Pack, who for more than three decades hosted “Thoroughbred Action” and “Inside Racing.”

Fans can access the podcast at NYRA.com/acrosstheboard.

◗ The Saratoga backstretch was to open over the weekend, with the first day of training scheduled for Monday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Classy Class returned to the winner’s circle on Thursday for the first time in nearly two years with a two-length victory in a third-level allowance race at Aqueduct.

Classy Class, who sparred on the lead with Big Guy Ian for the first half-mile, edged clear under Rajiv Maragh. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.74 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

“He’s had the 1 hole the last two times – I don’t like the one hole – but Rajiv had a lot of confidence,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He ran very well, ran very fast.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Linda Rice was considering several options for Matt King Coal’s next start, but the allure of a $1.25 million purse makes the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on April 22 the most attractive one.

With that race in mind, Rice had Matt King Coal breeze a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Friday over the Belmont Park training track. It was the fastest of 22 moves at the distance.

“He worked very well,” Rice said.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Finest City, the champion female sprinter of 2016, is training better than trainer Ian Kruljac expected as he considers where to run her next.

On Friday, Finest City worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds at Santa Anita, the fastest of 56 works at the distance.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Peter Miller may send four recent Santa Anita winners to Churchill Downs for major stakes May 5-6. Miller said on Friday that Conquest Farenheit, Richard’s Boy, Solid Wager, and Storm the Hill may travel there.

Conquest Farenheit, the winner of the Baffle and Pasadena stakes in consecutive starts at Santa Anita this year, is a candidate for the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on May 6.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Pacific Heat will have been away from the races for 53 weeks when she starts in an optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Trainer Peter Eurton considers the optional claimer the perfect comeback for Pacific Heat, who could start in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile on turf May 21.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Always Dreaming, the potential favorite for the Kentucky Derby, turned in the first of his three scheduled breezes leading up to the big event, going an easy half-mile in 49.90 seconds with jockey John Velazquez aboard shortly after dawn Friday at Palm Beach Downs.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said All Included, who won the Grade 3 Appleton after finishing second in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, will make his next start in the Grade 3 Miami Mile here April 29.

“He seems to like Gulfstream, so that seems like the most logical spot,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher breezed several notable horses Friday at Palm Beach Downs, including Destin and Syndergaard.

Lone Star Park near Dallas has renamed one of its premier races, the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile, for the late racing executive Steve Sexton.

Sexton, who was part of the track’s original management team, died in December after battling brain cancer. He was 57.

The Steve Sexton Mile for 3-year-olds and up will be run May 7. It will serve as a platform to raise awareness for a cause important to Sexton, putting underprivileged youth through college. Toward that end, the family is creating the Steven P. Sexton Foundation.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sean Perl will be leaving his position as assistant racing secretary at the New York Racing Association at the end of next week. Perl held the position for 2 1/2 years.

Perl, 30, will be launching his own bloodstock business starting with the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds from April 25-28.