Trainer Christophe Clement may eventually attempt to stretch out Summer Front in distance, but didn’t think the circumstances were right to do it in Saturday’s Virginia Derby.

With the possibility of less than firm ground at Colonial Downs, Clement scratched Summer Front from Saturday’s $600,000 Virginia Derby and instead will run him in Sunday’s $100,000 Duluth Stakes at Saratoga.

The Duluth is a one-mile race, a distance at which Summer Front has won three stakes, including the Grade 3 Hill Prince in his last start.

The early favorite for the prestigious All American Futurity for Quarter Horses will be established Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs with the running of the Grade 1, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity. The 400-yard race is the middle jewel of Ruidoso’s rich series for 2-year-olds that culminates with the Grade 1, $2.4 million All American Futurity on Sept. 3.

AUBURN, Wash. – While he’s not exactly ducking his celebrated stablemate, St Liams Halo figures to enjoy his chance to run in a race that doesn’t include Taylor Said. After three consecutive losses to his speedy nemesis at Hastings, St Liams Halo will start as one of the favorites Sunday in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at Emerald Downs.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When trainer Nick Zito drove to work Friday morning, it didn’t take him long to realize that this day was different from most.

As he drove to the Saratoga backstretch, Zito saw long lines of people waiting outside the gates on Union Avenue, gates that wouldn’t open yet for hours.

“You come in, it’s 6 o’clock and people are standing on line outside trying to get a good seat,” Zito said. “You know it’s different. Like they say, the show starts.”

DEL MAR, Calif. – For a Grade 2 stakes winner, Norvsky may not get the attention he deserved around Don Warren’s stable.

“In most years, he’d be our big horse,” Warren said. “He’d be in the first stall.”

The first stall in Warren’s stable is reserved for Acclamation, the champion older male of 2011. Acclamation was expected to be a heavy favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

Travis Tygart, the top official at the U.S. drug-testing agency overseeing the country’s Olympics and Paralympic teams, will provide the keynote address at the Jockey Club Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing on Aug. 12 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the Jockey Club announced on Friday.

Tygart, the chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency since 2007, will “share insights on the mission, policies and practices” employed by the agency “to combat the use of performance-enhancing drugs,” the Jockey Club said in a release.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though the logistics have not yet been finalized, there will increased security protocols put in place for select races at Saratoga, the chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board said Friday.

“I’ve met with trainers throughout the last month and owners, plus security, and NYRA, and we’ll be coming out with something soon,” Chairman John Sabini said Friday before the opening race at Saratoga. “We want to make it user-friendly, yet meaningful; that’s the goal.”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Jockey Richard Hamel was all smiles after working Madeira Park a half-mile in 46.60 seconds Thursday. It wasn’t just the way the 3-year-old filly worked that had Hamel in such good spirits. A couple of months ago Hamel thought his career might be over. Plagued by arthritic knees, Hamel said he was in too much pain to continue riding. Following successful surgery, Hamel was back working horses a couple of weeks ago and is accepting mounts for next Friday. The last time he rode was on May 21.

Sensational Minnesota-bred Heliskier is the 1-5 favorite in the $35,000 Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Laddie Stakes at Canterbury on Sunday.

The MTA Laddie and Lassie stakes are for 3 year olds who are progeny of stallions sold at the MTA stallion auction in 2007. Both divisions will be contested at 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wise Dan is currently rated among the elite members of the nation’s handicap division. But on Friday morning, Wise Dan made his way over to the Oklahoma turf course, where he worked five furlongs in 1:02.76, much to the delight of his trainer, Charles Lopresti.

“That was perfect,” Lopresti said while watching Wise Dan give his rider all he could handle pulling him up after the work.

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