SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kharafa has been racing at New York Racing Association tracks since 2011 and has been a mainstay in the New York-bred turf division since 2013. He’s won 7 of 21 starts at Belmont Park and is 2 of 4 at Aqueduct. He has not done as well at Saratoga, however, and has yet to finish better than third in four tries.

Kharafa has won at least one stakes a year in New York from 2013 to 2015. He will try to extend his streak and break into the Saratoga win column on Friday in the $150,000 West Point, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for statebreds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If nothing else, the Travers has not lacked for drama over the last decade. In seven of the last 10 runnings, the margin of victory has been less than a length.

Longtime owner and breeder William S. Farish has been on the wrong end of two close Travers finishes with Grasshopper, who fell a half-length short to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in 2007, and Mambo in Seattle, who got beat a nose by Colonel John in 2008.

“I remember them very well,” Farish said this week. “I wasn’t happy at the time, but I’m certainly over them and pushing forward.”

It was only fitting that Larry Lederman filled in at the microphone for Monmouth Park announcer Frank Mirahmadi when he was recovering from surgery last week. Mirahmadi and Lederman are longtime friends and have great respect for each other’s work. Also, for the last five years Lederman has been bravely dealing with his own serious health issues.

In April 2011, Lederman was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor after he collapsed and nearly died.

A generation ago, Rob O’Connor was the leading trainer at Ellis Park, tying Bernie Flint with 12 winners at the 1991 meet. Echoes of those glory days were sounded last Sunday when O’Connor sent out Flashy Chelsey to a hard-fought victory in a $37,200 turf allowance.

Flashy Chelsey “is a good horse,” said O’Connor, adding that the 4-year-old colt will run back Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs in a $75,000 qualifier for the Dec. 3 Claiming Crown Emerald at Gulfstream Park.

A generation ago, Rob O’Connor was the leading trainer at Ellis Park, tying Bernie Flint with 12 winners at the 1991 meet. Echoes of those glory days were sounded last Sunday when O’Connor sent out Flashy Chelsey to a hard-fought victory in a $37,200 turf allowance.

Flashy Chelsey “is a good horse,” said O’Connor, adding that the 4-year-old colt will run back Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs in a $75,000 qualifier for the Dec. 3 Claiming Crown Emerald at Gulfstream Park.

Horsemen and fans who were skeptical when it was announced in March that Calvin Borel had decided to retire were proven correct when the Hall of Fame jockey recently decided to return to riding. In recent interviews with Ellis Park publicity, Borel revealed why he decided to return.

“I just wasn’t happy,” said Borel, 49. “I wanted to come back to ride. This is what makes me happy. I love to ride.”

If a jockey can only ride as fast as his mount can run, well, a racing secretary might only be as effective as the purses he can offer.

That might make Tyler Picklesimer the best racing secretary in the world these days. Picklesimer is overseeing the upcoming five-day meet at Kentucky Downs, where purses once again have horsemen and fans wondering if they can believe what they see.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The connections of Exaggerator believe the last month has made a world of difference for their 3-year-old as far as his chance for success at Saratoga.

Displeased with the way he was training over the main track here in July and the potential setup in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, trainer Keith Desormeaux called an audible and ran Exaggerator in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 31, a race he won by 1 1/2 lengths with the benefit of a fast pace and a sloppy track.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The HPBA of Ontario and Woodbine Entertainment Group have announced that the Ontario-sired bonus program will not be eliminated during eligible horses’ 2- and 3-year-old campaigns in 2017-18.

According to a press release put out by Woodbine, the program exceeded expectations in 2014, when $3.6 million was paid out, and in 2015, when $4.4 million was awarded. Woodbine made adjustments to the program for 2016 in an effort to realign the bonus to the $2 million that was budgeted.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The unbeaten, champion filly Songbird arrived back at trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s Del Mar barn Monday and will remain in California to train until her next scheduled start, the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing.

The Cotillion will be her final scheduled start before she takes on elders – likely including fellow champions Beholder and Stellar Wind – for the first time in what’s shaping up as a star-studded Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.