SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jackson Bend served notice he’d be a force to be reckoned with in the sprint division a year ago with his rail-skimming, 2 1/2-length victory in the James Marvin Stakes. On Friday, Jackson Bend will attempt to defend his title and regain his standing as one of the country’s elite sprinters when topping a field of seven entered in the $100,000 James Marvin, a race elevated to Grade 3 status for the first time this summer.

Jon Arnett, who has won multiple training titles in New Mexico and Colorado, is expanding the reach of his stable. He plans to have a 35-horse division at Remington Park in Oklahoma City for the first time this fall, and if the stable performs well he would like to test the waters at Oaklawn Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Zo Impressive will attempt to continue her rise up the ranks of the 3-year-old filly division when she takes on just five rivals in Saturday’s $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

Silver Max will put his five-race win streak on the line Saturday night when going postward as a solid favorite in the Grade  2, $600,000 Virginia Derby, the annual showcase race at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.

Silver Max, with Robby Albarado to ride, will break from post 7 when facing eight other 3-year-olds in the Virginia Derby, which goes at 1 1/4 miles on the expansive turf course at Colonial. Silver Max has never raced farther than 1 1/16 miles.

Parlo, one of the few fillies to ever win both the Delaware Oaks and Delaware Handicap, and Hall of Fame trainer Buddy Delp are among the sixth group of inductees announced Wednesday to Delaware Park’s Wall of Fame.

The other three honorees are former jockey Eldon Nelson, owners Walter and Sarah Jeffords, and Bayard Sharp, an original member of Delaware Park’s board of directors.

OMAHA, Neb. – Diamond Joe headlines a field of seven 3-year-old Nebraska breds going a mile in the $27,500 Skunktail Stakes on Friday as Horsemen’s Park begins the second weekend of its summer festival of racing.

This year’s festival was expanded from its traditional four-day, single-weekend format to two three-day weekends. The meet’s highlight is the $30,000 Omaha Stakes slated for Sunday.

Last year’s champion 3-year-old filly, Royal Delta, and five-time graded stakes winner Awesome Maria will resume their rivalry in Saturday’s Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park.

The $750,000 Delaware Handicap is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In series, guaranteeing the winner a berth into thie fall’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rode I’ll Have Another to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, will be at Northlands Park this weekend. Gutierrez will meet and greet fans for an autograph signing session on Friday night. Saturday, he will ride Commander in the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy. Commander figures to be a solid favorite in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

Fans will be able meet with Gutierrez on the tarmac Friday beginning at 8 p.m.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As a former assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, Michelle Nihei knows a little something about winning races at Saratoga.

In the three summers she has spent here since going out on her own, however, success has not come readily for the 42-year-old Canadian-born trainer. That could change this year.

Nihei has brought 15 horses to Saratoga and has another 18 stabled at Belmont Park as she tries to establish some New York roots.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While there will be 54 stakes races run here this meet, not all will have the anticipation that comes with virtually every 2-year-old maiden race run at Saratoga.

The potential unveiling of racing’s next star is the backbone of each Saratoga summer, and this year there could be more 2-year-old races than in years past.