LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wesley Ward is a lot like a football coach in that, even late in the game, you can’t tell by his expression whether he is winning or losing. With few exceptions, Ward doesn’t do any rooting for his horses, even in the stretch run of their races. Rather, he watches closely and impassively, far more clinician than cheerleader.

ELMONT, N.Y. – While a large field remains likely, the lineup for the 137th Preakness Stakes underwent some alterations Friday as Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Dullahan as well as Derby pace factor Trinniberg were removed from consideration while newcomers Teeth of the Dog and Zetterholm were added to the mix.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Taylor Said showed his trainer Troy Taylor a new dimension when he came from a stalking position with Fernando Perez aboard to win the $50,000 John Longden 6000 last Sunday. It wasn’t by design, though. Taylor expected the speedy 4-year-old to be the one everyone was chasing in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

“I was surprised because he has so much speed,” Taylor said. “This might change our plans with him. We always thought he was just a sprinter, but now we’re not so sure. Fernando was impressed and thinks he’ll go long.”

FORT ERIE, Ontario – Opening weekend at Fort Erie began with a Kentucky Derby Day crowd that kept the tellers and concessions busy all day.

“In the past, we opened on the same day as the Derby,” said Rick Cowan, chief executive officer of Fort Erie, “but this year we tried something different by having our opening day on Sunday instead.

“It turned out great as the large Derby crowd of Saturday was primed and ready for Sunday’s live racing. We were pleased at the response from both a financial and customer standpoint.”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A large crowd is expected at Hastings Sunday when Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez will hold a noon press conference and then a meet-and-greet with fans on the tarmac in front of the winner’s circle at 1 p.m.

Gutierrez, 25, came to Hastings as an apprentice in 2006 and was the leading rider here in 2007 and 2008. He said he is coming to Vancouver to thank people for the support they have given him throughout his career.

Anne’s Beauty, who showed both talent and versatility in her 3-year-old campaign, had a troubled trip when fifth in her seasonal bow at Gulfstream in the Wait a While over 1 1/16 miles of turf. That race was on April 8 and while Anne’s Beauty is ready to run again the time and date of her next appearance remains flexible.

Paul Attard, who trains Anne’s Beauty for owner Rob Smithen, entered the Kentucky-bred in Sunday’s prep for the Grade 2, $300,0000 Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares..

OCEANPORT, N.J. – After Deliburnsky ran third in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes over the inner track at Aqueduct in January, trainer Tony Wilson decided to take a step back with the 3-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding.

Rather than press on, Wilson opted to give Deliburnsky, the winner of three races, including the Jersey Juvenile by six widening lengths, a break with Monmouth Park on the not-too-distant horizon.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Katie Get Excited will be stretching out for the first time and making her stakes debut here at Woodbine in Sunday’s 1 1/16 mile Selene Stakes. But Ricky Griffith, who trains the Kentucky-bred, said he believes Katie Is Excited is worthy of the opportunity to prove she belongs with the cream of her crop.

“I think she’s got some class,” said Griffith, who conditions Katie Get Excited for the partnership of his main client, Glenn Harvey, and Steve Duffield, who race as Debmar Stable.

MIAMI – Trainer David Fawkes’s arsenal of talented horses grew by one, somewhat unexpectedly, during the spring when he added the Grade 1-placed Tamarind Hall to his stable. She has not started since finishing 10th after forcing the pace into the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last fall. Tamarind Hall will make her first start for Fawkes in Sunday’s $38,000 feature at Calder, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint to be decided under money allowance conditions.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Dynamic Host could have easily started in the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita on April 22. Dynamic Host would have more than likely been beaten in the San Juan Capistrano, a race that drew many of the circuit’s top turf marathoners.

Instead, trainer Art Sherman decided to skip that race with Dynamic Host in favor of Sunday’s $70,000 Round Table Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park. The Round Table Stakes is run over 1 1/2 miles on turf, and is a race that the 6-year-old Dynamic Host can win.