Trainers Bob Hess and Billy Morey have similar concerns heading into Saturday’s Charlie Palmer Futurity, a $75,000 stakes race for 2-year-olds at one mile over dirt at the Big Fresno Fair.

The Hess-trained Anytime Magic and the Morey-trained My Best Bet are both legitimate contenders in the field of six, but, as with all their other rivals, Saturday’s race is the longest they’ve attempted during their brief careers.

Breeding suggests both Anytime Magic, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, and My Best Bet, who is by Best of the Rest, should be able to handle the distance.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Spring Venture, Woodbine’s leading 2-year-old filly, will test her skills around two turns on the Polytrack on Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $200,000 Mazarine Stakes.

Spring Venture won for fun when she debuted in a seven-furlong maiden special on the grass Aug. 18. A month later, she was favored in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes, in which she closed from midpack to prevail while being geared down late by Patrick Husbands.

Keeneland has withdrawn from a racing industry lobbying group that has pushed for casino legislation for the past five years, the company confirmed on Thursday.

The millionaire Ben’s Cat towers over his nine rivals on class in the $100,000 Maryland Millon Turf Sprint Handicap, a race he has won each of the past two years. But will he be toppled over by the weight he must concede?

The Turf Sprint is the leading race on the undercard of the 27th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million on Saturday at Laurel Park. The 11-race program devoted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions will offer a collective $1.05 million in purses.

Eighttofasttocatch was hammered down to 4-5 favoritism when he scored in last fall’s Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park. He shouldn’t be anywhere near that price when he defends his title against five rivals in the $150,000 feature during the 27th Jim McKay Maryland Million, an 11-race card devoted to the offspring of Marland-based stallions.

Although he is winless since March and his three most recent races were lackluster efforts, Eighttofasttocatch may not be as vulnerable as he appears at first glance in the 1 1/8-mile Classic.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The accolade “freak” is overused in racing, as any first-time starter winning by open lengths might be labeled as such.

Though Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford is a rare Keeneland stakes race not designated as a Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup prep, it doesn’t show in the quality of horses entered in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race.

Five of the seven entries are stakes winners, led by Chamberlain Bridge, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, and Bridgetown, a multiple stakes winner who ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2009.

[KEENELAND: Get PPs, watch Saturday's full card live]

Welcome to Keeneland Babies!  I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile maiden contest at the meet.  In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Keeneland Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile maiden race.  Each analysis will include relevant statistical information.  Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.  Selections and wagering strategy will be presented for non-maiden races.

ELMONT, N.Y. – With a forecast that calls for wet weather Sunday and with its turf courses already saturated by rain, the New York Racing Association has moved two turf stakes scheduled for Sunday at Belmont Park to Monday’s Columbus Day card.

NYRA officials have moved the Pilgrim, for 2-year-old males, and the Miss Grillo, for 2-year-old fillies, to Monday. Though typically a dark day on this circuit, Belmont will have live racing Monday because of the holiday.

PHOENIX – Turf Paradise, which was to begin its meet Friday, has implemented a procedure to ensure its jockeys are fit enough to handle the physical demands of riding.

With the blessing of the Jockeys’ Guild, the Phoenix track is initiating the “Dr. Tibone protocol,” named for its developer, James Tibone, a California-based sports medicine physician and orthopedic surgeon. It issues a questionnaire designed to establish a rider’s history of injuries and gives jockeys a physical exam that focuses on motor strength and range of motion.