The $1 pick six, relaunched at Santa Anita at the start of the current autumn meeting on Sept. 29, generated higher handle for the first seven racing days of the season than the 20-cent Rainbow pick six in the corresponding period in 2022.

After seven days of racing, the $1 pick six had a handle of $1,374,729 compared to $1,257,027 for the Rainbow pick six.

The year-to-year comparison will change in favor of the old 20-cent Rainbow pick six this weekend. Last year on Saturday, Oct. 15, the Rainbow pick six drew a pool of $2,039,220 on a day with a mandatory payout.

Echo Zulu, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2021, sustained a sesamoid injury in a workout Friday at Santa Anita and is scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

Echo Zulu was in training for the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita when she was stricken. She was in the midst of a workout when the injury occurred.

Unbeaten in three starts this year, Echo Zulu was a contender for either the Breeders’ Cup Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint.

A New York Supreme Court judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by two New York residents seeking to declare unconstitutional the $455 million loan the state approved in the spring for the New York Racing Association to renovate Belmont Park, meaning the project will be able to move forward.

Judge Peter Lynch issued his ruling just one day after oral arguments were presented in court from both sides.

The official time of the Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 7 at Keeneland was revised this week from 1:45.06 to 1:44.62 after hand-timing of race video revealed a discrepancy with the 1 1/16-mile race’s initial clocking. 

Locked, who overcame a wide trip to win the Grade 1 race for 2-year-olds, had his Beyer Speed Figure raised from an 87 to a 92. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt, one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, got a 96 Beyer for his maiden win at Saratoga in his start before the Breeders’ Futurity. 

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Due to inclement weather that will likely impact turf racing Sunday at Aqueduct, the New York Racing Association has postponed two turf stakes scheduled for Sunday and will run them next week.

The $125,000 Glen Cove Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies scheduled for six furlongs, has been pushed to Thursday. It will be open to original nominees and supplements and be drawn Saturday.

Juan Hernandez, the leading rider at the current Santa Anita autumn meeting, has been given a three-day suspension from Oct. 20-22 by Santa Anita stewards for careless riding in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes last Sunday.

Hernandez was cited for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch of the one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds. Endlessly won by 2 1/4 lengths, but Formidable Man, who finished sixth, was forced to alter course when Endlessly moved out in the stretch.

Bill McLean was forewarned.

After he claimed Morning Addiction for $10,000 at Del Mar on Sept. 1, McLean was warned by fellow trainer Quinn Howey that the 6-year-old mare had a few quirky habits.

McLean, and everyone watching Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 30, saw the oddities themselves when Morning Addiction won a $12,500 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Jockey Julien Leparoux, an Eclipse Award-winning rider nearing 3,000 career wins in North America, will be based at Oaklawn Park for the first time this winter, agent Jose Santos Jr. said Wednesday.

Leparoux is currently riding at Keeneland. He will head to Arkansas following the upcoming Churchill Downs meet. Santos said Leparoux is scheduled to begin working horses at Oaklawn the first week in December. The meet opens Dec. 8.

Leparoux in the past has wintered at Gulfstream Park.