It’s raining money in little Franklin, Ky., population 10,000, situated not especially close to anything.

Thanks to a casino, the Mint Gaming Hall, humming away on the property, the astronomical purses Kentucky Downs offered the last several years somehow have grown even higher for 2024. The track intends to pay out roughly $37 million during a seven-day meeting that begins Thursday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Umberto Rispoli and Edwin Maldonado, two of the top six riders at the Del Mar summer meeting, will miss Saturday’s blockbuster program at Del Mar to ride at Kentucky Downs.

The Del Mar program on Saturday is the richest of the meeting, with five stakes, including the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, a $1 million race at 1 1/4 miles that is a key prep for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

DEL MAR, Calif. – At this time of year in recent seasons, Bran, the 6-year-old gelding trained by John Sadler, would have been on a plane for a stakes appearance at Kentucky Downs or being prepared for a turf sprint.

This summer, Bran is thriving in one-mile races, leaving him a contender for Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf.

It may be a temporary assignment. A lucrative turf sprint next month is another possibility, Sadler said over the weekend.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Full Serrano has worked his way into Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Full Serrano, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred horse, won his American debut in an allowance race at a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 3. In recent weeks, trainer John Sadler was hesitant to commit Full Serrano to the $1 million Pacific Classic until he watched a series of three workouts, including six furlongs in 1:11.40 last Saturday.

Over the weekend, Sadler said Full Serrano has done enough to merit a start in the track’s signature race of the summer meeting.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mentee, a full brother to Travers winner Fierceness, worked five furlongs in 1:01 Monday morning over Saratoga’s main track and afterward trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed him as a starter for Monday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

Mentee was scratched from the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes on July 13 due to a fever and didn’t recover in time to make the Saratoga Special. Monday’s work was his second five-furlong work since returning to training.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bellacose, who would have been a serious contender in last Sunday’s $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga, was scratched from that race in favor of running in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes.

A debut 10 3/4-length debut winner against New York-breds on July 17, Bellacose was purchased privately by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing, which now owns 75 percent of the daughter of Audible. The original partners stayed in for 25 percent. She remains with trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer John Ortiz is trying to prove a point this summer at Saratoga.

“I’m definitely trying to prove that I belong with the elite, that’s the point we’re trying to make,” Ortiz said Monday. “We’re trying to be with the right company and put our horses with the right company, and that’s the story of success.”

With five wins from eight starters this summer at Saratoga, Ortiz and his horses are certainly proving they belong in top company. Ortiz will try to close out the meet strong with runners in three stakes during the final week.