Specific race plans aren’t set for Hot and Sultry and she probably won’t race again until early next year, but the 4-year-old filly gave her connections plenty to look forward to, acing a comeback start Saturday in the Chilukki Stakes.

Racing for the first time since May, Hot and Sultry shot to the lead and never looked back in the Chilukki, winning by eight lengths over the good filly Nostalgic. Hot and Sultry ran the one-turn mile over a somewhat dull strip in 1:35.93, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure that might underrate the strength of her performance.

At age 36, after eight years of riding in North America, the jockey Declan Cannon came into this year decently established on the Kentucky circuit. Before the global COVID-19 pandemic laid low most of the racing world, Cannon, a native of Ireland, had made steady year-to-year progress, hitting a peak in 2019 with 66 winners and $2.6 million purse earnings. In 2022, Cannon rode 24 winners, with his 290 mounts earning purses just short of $1.5 million. No one could have foreseen what 2023 would bring.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Horse racing has been slow to embrace technology and Joe Appelbaum believes that’s a problem.

So, in deciding not to run for another term as president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association [NYTHA], Appelbaum, a football coach in his younger days, is going to try and tackle the issue of bringing more technology into the sport.

Jockey Cristian Torres was to begin working horses at Oaklawn Park on Thursday, according to agent Cody Autrey. The meet opens Dec. 8.

“He’ll be back here, ready to go,” Autrey said Tuesday.

Torres has a few out-of-state engagements in late November and in December. The rider has stakes mounts on the Land of Enchantment card Nov. 28 at Zia Park, the Claiming Crown card Dec. 2 at Fair Grounds, and the Springboard Mile program Dec. 15 at Remington Park.

Touchuponastar is likely headed back to Louisiana-bred company at Fair Grounds after winning his first race against open foes in the $100,000 Delta Downs Mile.

Owner Jake Delhomme said Tuesday a couple of races are being debated for Touchuponastar, including the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic on Dec. 9 at Fair Grounds.

“We’ll let him tell us when he’s ready,” he said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While trainer Chad Brown typically puts his turf horses in hibernation for the winter, Implicated will be an exception to the rule.

Implicated was making only her second start of the year when she won Saturday’s Grade 3 Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct, so she will be kept in training for at least another start or two this winter.

While Brown does not have a specific race picked out, Implicated would be eligible to face 3-year-old fillies again in the Tropical Park Oaks on Dec. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Patience has paid off for Signator who looks to be reaching the potential his connections hoped for after he won his maiden as a 2-year-old last fall at Aqueduct.

On Sunday, Signator drew clear to a 2 1/2-length victory in a race that will likely have him stakes-bound for his next start. Though the horse is headed to South Florida this week to continue training, trainer Shug McGaughey mentioned the $150,000 Queens County Stakes on Dec. 31 at Aqueduct as a potential spot for his stakes debut.