LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lea will make his first start since finishing third in the March 28 Dubai World Cup when he takes on the Todd Pletcher-trained Commissioner in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs next Saturday night.

Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Lea has earned nearly $1.9 million in his 15-race career. Prior to finishing four lengths behind Prince Bishop in the World Cup, he was second as the favorite behind Constitution, also trained by Pletcher, in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver said that Tencendur will make his next start in the $500,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown on June 20.

Tencendur finished second in the Grade 1 Wood and 17th in the Kentucky Derby. A New York bred son of Warrior’s Reward, Tencendur made the lead in early stretch before proving no match for Frosted in the Wood. He never factored in the Derby, but has trained extremely well in preparation for his return, working a very impressive five furlongs in 59 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 in company here last Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – California-based turf filly Spanish Queen is headed east for a July 4 showdown with the undefeated New York-based Lady Eli.

The top turf filly in the West following a decisive victory in the Grade 1 American Oaks last Saturday at Santa Anita, Spanish Queen will aim for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park, where she is expected to meet Lady Eli.

ELMONT, N.Y. – In 2007, Ahmed Zayat was the leading owner at Saratoga and Bill Mott was the leading trainer, based largely on the success the pair had with their 2-year-olds. The business relationship lasted another year or so before the two split up.

On Thursday, the Zayats announced that they would again be using Mott and that they plan to send him five or six 2-year-olds this year.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Dale Romans knew early on that American Pharoah was special.

He was at a farm in Ocala, Fla., with several other of trainers who worked for Ahmed Zayat when American Pharoah breezed for the first time.

“Super horse,” Romans said. “To watch his first quarter-mile breeze and see it all come together . . . it’s more fun than if I had him to train because there would have been more stress.”

ELMONT, N.Y. – It isn’t often that a trainer could run the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner in a Grade 1 race and have it be only the second-most important race of his day.

Such is the case for trainer Bob Baffert, who two hours before he saddles American Pharoah in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes – and a bid to win the Triple Crown – will send out Bayern in the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

If it were not for Robert Luttrell’s wife, Myrna, there might not be a Promise Me Silver attempting to become the first Texas-bred since Got Koko in 2002 to win a Grade 1 race on Saturday. Promise Me Silver carries the hopes of the Lone Star State’s breeding program into the Acorn, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies on the Belmont Stakes undercard. She is seeking to improve her career record to 9 for 9.

OPELOUSAS, La. – Saturday night’s Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association annual awards ceremony at Evangeline Downs promises to be anything but the usual, mundane banquet scene.

Belmont Park
Weather: Overcast 
Track: Sloppy 
Temp: 56

Last year, trainer Keith Desormeaux won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Texas Red, who finished a close second to American Pharoah in the voting for champion 2-year-old male. So, when Desormeaux ships a maiden across the country for a stakes race and names his brother Kent to ride, it merits attention.

On Friday, Desormeaux will start Swipe in the $250,000 Tremont Stakes. Swipe finished second in his first start May 22 at Santa Anita and figures as one of the longer prices in the Tremont.