OPELOUSAS, La. – Jockey Gerard Melancon has been suspended 14 days by the Evangeline Downs stewards for being the aggressor in an altercation with fellow rider Liandro Atempa in the track’s jockeys’ quarters two weeks ago. Atempa required medical attention following the incident, complaining of headaches and dizziness.

In addition to the suspension, Melancon was placed on probation for the remainder of the meeting, which runs through Sept. 7. He was also ordered to undergo anger management counseling.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby winner Orb took a significant first step toward a possible start in the June 8 Belmont Stakes and a rematch with Preakness winner Oxbow with a strong one-mile gallop Thursday morning over a sealed, good Belmont Park main track.

The exercise was Orb's first since he finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico last Saturday, and gave trainer Shug McGaughey encouragement that the horse could make the $1 million Belmont.

[BELMONT STAKES: Probable field and latest updates]

Groupie Doll, the 2012 Eclipse Award winner for filly-mare sprinter, is still weeks away from her first breeze, said trainer Buff Bradley. The 5-year-old mare returned to training early this month at Churchill after almost three months’ rest on Bradley’s farm in Frankfort, Ky.

“She’s just been jogging two miles a day,” said Bradley. “She’ll do that for another week, then start galloping. So we’re still about a month or so away from breezing.”

Bourbon Courage will miss the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 15 at Churchill because of minor injuries incurred in a rough running of the Alysheba Stakes, said trainer Kellyn Gorder.

“We’ve turned him out for a little R and R at WinStar Farm,” said Gorder. “The hide got torn off his left front pretty good. There weren’t any stitches, but he’s cut up there and a couple other spots. We’ll probably bring him back in a few weeks.”

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There are three notable absences from Saturday's American Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park: Defending champion Wilkinson, the multiple stakes winner Jeranimo, and Indy Point, the winner of the 2012 Argentine Derby.

Wilkinson an optional claimer on May 2. Trainer Jeff Mullins said on Wednesday that Wilkinson is being pointed for the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on June 29.

“I didn’t want to run him back that quick,” Mullins said. “We’ll point for the Shoemaker. He’s doing okay.”

The 5-year-old mare Onepointhreekarats reaffirmed her affinity for the main track at Delaware Park on Wednesday when she scored a front-running two-length victory in the $51,625 Winter Melody Stakes for older fillies and mares.

ELMONT, N.Y. – A solid field of nine is shaping up for Monday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, but the race did lose a horse on Wednesday who may have vied for favoritism in the one-mile race.

Jimmy Creed, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu in December and Grade 2 Potrero Grande in April, will not ship cross-country from Southern California for the Met as originally planned. Trainer Richard Mandella said Wednesday that he wasn’t satisfied with Jimmy Creed’s seven-furlong workout in 1:27.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Delightful Quality is skipping a condition when she starts in Friday’s featured $74,000 second-level allowance race at seven furlongs at Belmont Park, but the competition she faces appears softer than what she has been facing.

Delightful Quality is still eligible for a first-level allowance race, but trainer Tom Albertrani said he was unable to find a suitable spot for his 4-year-old filly, which is why he put her in here.

AUBURN, Wash. – Go With Gusto, seeking his 11th local victory, and Wasserman, hero of the 2008 Longacres Mile, headline the feature race Friday at Emerald Downs. The seven-race twilight card begins at 6:45 p.m. Pacific and the feature, a $17,500 claimer for older horses at 6 1/2 furlongs, is race 6.

Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico will have record purses for its most important Quarter Horse stakes at its 60-date mixed meet that opens Friday. The season continues through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The All American Derby will be worth $2.8 million when it is run at Ruidoso on Sept. 1, making the 440-yard dash the richest Quarter Horse race ever offered. Last year, the All American Derby was worth $2.2 million. Trials for this year’s All American Derby are Aug. 16.