Ain’t Life Grand is being pointed for next month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap after dominating the local prep Saturday at Prairie Meadows. 

He closed from next to last for a 6 1/4-length victory in the $60,000 Jim and Sandra Rasmussen Stakes. For the effort, Ain't Life Grand earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100.

 “We loved the way he ran,” said trainer Kelly Von Hemel. “And the race set up really well. 

“We’ll get ready for the Cornhusker here. It’s kind of the reason we stuck around here, did the prep here - tried to get ready for the Cornhusker.” 

William Meyers, a steward in California for nearly 40 years, died on Saturday from health complications, the California Horse Racing Board announced earlier this week.

Meyers was 69.

Known to friends and colleagues as Will, Meyers worked as a steward at several California tracks, including Santa Anita in the early months of the 2021-2022 winter-spring meeting. He was best known for decades of service in Northern California, particularly on the fair circuit.

Stilleto Boy, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March, was recently transferred from Golden Gate Fields to Santa Anita to continue preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park in Kentucky on July 1.

The $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes at 1 1/8 miles was scheduled to be run at Churchill Downs until track officials announced earlier this month that the track’s spring-summer race meeting was being moved to Ellis Park following a series of fatalities at Churchill Downs earlier in the spring.

Geaux Rocket Ride, the winner of the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on June 2, will be tested against some of the nation’s leading 3-year-olds in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 22.

Trainer Richard Mandella confirmed his plans for Geaux Rocket Ride on Wednesday, saying the colt is nearing his first workout since the Affirmed this weekend.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Anthony Stabile confirmed Wednesday he has resigned from his position at the New York Racing Association, where he held several roles including co-host of “Talking Horses.”

Stabile declined to go into details over the specifics of why he resigned – which he officially did June 8 – though he was suspended two weeks by NYRA for a video that circulated of him threatening trainer Jim Chapman in May on the Belmont backstretch.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Love Reigns was not one of the four horses trainer Wesley Ward sent to England for next week’s prestigious Royal Ascot meeting.

Ward said recent works put in by Love Reigns didn’t give him the confidence to take her to England. Last year, Love Reigns finished fourth in the Group 2 Queen Mary.

Ward said he would point Love Reigns to the $150,000 Coronation Cup on July 14 at Saratoga.

Becky Ryder, who has served as the director of the prestigious Keeneland Library for the past 13 years, will retire at the end of October and be succeeded by Roda Ferraro, who has done previous work for the library, Keeneland announced on Wednesday.

Ken Carson will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Texas Thoroughbred Association during its annual meeting and banquet on June 24 at Lone Star, the organization announced. Carson long managed Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas, and is closely affiliated with the Scharbauer family, who campaigned Alysheba.

Tracy Sheffield will be honored as the TTA’s member of the year. She has long spearheaded the Roses to Ribbon events that match racehorses set to retire with new owners. It’s held near the close of most meets in Texas.

Closing Act, a Texas-bred 2-year-old filly who won the $150,000 Astoria on Sunday at Belmont Park, could run back in New York, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday. She has an option at Saratoga, and also one in her home state of Texas.

“She is eligible for the Sales Futurity at Lone Star,” Asmussen said. “I don’t know if I’d bring her back for that. We also have the Schuylerville at Saratoga."

The $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity is July 1. The Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville is July 13.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The collective sigh of relief heard Tuesday among many sprinters based in the Midwest came after word that Skelly is going on vacation. The standout runner has won five straight races, his latest the $100,000 Speightstown Sprint at Lone Star Park.

 Prior to the effort – for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102 -  he zipped to four straight wins at Oaklawn Park. His run includes the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.