ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird is expected to face at least six rivals Saturday when she returns in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks here. The undefeated filly worked seven furlongs in company Saturday morning, rallying from behind workmates, splitting that pair, and drawing away late, according to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. She was timed in 1:25.80.

The expected rivals for Songbird include the Phil D’Amato-trained Bellamentary and Coppa, along with Kay Kay, Kiss N Scat, Not Now Carolyn, and the maiden She’s a Warrior.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will resume a regular work pattern Friday or Saturday, according to trainer Doug O’Neill. Nyquist got sick days after the Preakness and missed the Belmont Stakes. He returned to Santa Anita on June 5, jogged for four days, and resumed galloping last Friday.

O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam have not determined where Nyquist will launch the second half of his 3-year-old campaign. Nyquist remains the division leader and is still in the driver’s seat for the Eclipse Award as outstanding 3-year-old male.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Donworth, scratched from the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap last Saturday at Belmont Park with a cough, could be back in action sooner than expected. Trainer Doug O’Neill said that if Donworth returns from New York in top shape, he could show up in either of the Grade 1 races scheduled for June 25 at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly R Sunday Surprise has a lot to live up to when she makes her career debut in the first race Thursday at Santa Anita.

Sired by Lucky Pulpit and produced by Love the Chase, R Sunday Surprise is a full sister to California Chrome, the winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby, the 2016 Dubai World Cup, and more than $12 million. That is all fine and dandy, but can the filly run? According to trainer Doug O’Neill, she definitely can run.

The three Triple Crown races were won by three different horses, each of whom won another major Grade 1 race earlier in the year. Their similar résumés through the first six months of the year mean that Creator, Exaggerator, and Nyquist all seemingly will go into the second half of the year with an equal chance to wrest the title as champion 3-year-old male, unlike last year, when that title and Horse of the Year were signed, sealed, and delivered as soon as American Pharoah swept the Triple Crown.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Effinex, the solid favorite for the Grade 1, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday, arrived here Sunday via the equine charter flight that brought a planeload of Kentucky horses back from New York. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was scheduled to arrive here later in the week to oversee the horse’s final preparations. Gary Stevens has the mount in place of Mike Smith, who is committed to Songbird on Saturday in the Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The whirlwind existence of Steve Asmussen brought him from New York to Louisville on Sunday, and contrary to his usual itinerary, there won’t be any quick trips home to Texas this week.

“School’s out, so Julie and the boys will be here Friday on their way to Saratoga,” said Asmussen, referring to his wife and three sons.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Grade 3-winning sprinter Skylander Girl has been retired from racing, trainer Alexander Patykewich said.

“She started getting a little bit of ankle on her, and I just don’t want to hurt her,” he said. “She’s been too good to me. I just retired her – it’s the easiest thing to do. She’s never had a needle put into her, she’s never been on Lasix, and I don’t want to start now. I could have kept her going, but I didn’t want to hurt her.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Several Queen’s Plate prospects were entered in allowance races last Saturday, and two of those horses appear to be on track for the July 3 classic.

Narrow Escape captured the Saturday opener with a front-running score in an Ontario-sired allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta. It was Narrow Escape’s first start since winning an Ontario-sired maiden special weight last October.

“We’re delighted with the little horse,” said trainer Justin Nixon. “If he’s healthy, we’re going. You’re only 3 once. He’s come out of the race well.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine Oaks winner Neshama might run back in the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on July 3, trainer Catherine Day Phillips said.

Neshama got a perfect trip under Eurico Da Silva to win the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks by a nose over a troubled Gamble’s Ghost on Sunday. The 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks and Sunday’s 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial Stakes served as key local preps for the 1 1/4-mile Queen’s Plate.