ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Trainer Jim Meyaard had been operating in relative anonymity, mostly on the Alberta “B” circuit, when he set up shop at Northlands Park in 2007.

Now, after making a serious impression at that Edmonton racetrack over the last three seasons, Meyaard has moved his operation to Woodbine and has every intention of remaining.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Essence Hit Man, named top sprinter in Canada for 2011 at the Sovereign Awards gala on Thursday evening, will try to win the $150,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes for the second year in a row Saturday at Woodbine.

Essence Hit Man, a rapid 5-year-old trained by co-owner Audre Cappuccitti, set a sizzling pace en route to a two-length score in last year’s Jacques Cartier, and covered the six furlongs in a snappy 1:08.16.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Ashland Stakes has been a major prep toward the Kentucky Oaks for decades. It still might serve in that role Saturday when the Ashland is run for the 75th time at Keeneland, but if Stephanie’s Kitten wins as the favorite, a whole new world will have opened up.

[ASHLAND STAKES: Get PPs, watch Saturday's full Keeneland card live]

Is Ben’s Cat ready to pick up where he left off last year, when he established himself as one of the top turf sprinters on the East Coast? Based on his two most recent workouts, it certainly appears so.

Now 6, Ben’s Cat returns after a break of 4 1/2 months to face five other Maryland-breds in Saturday’s $75,000 Mister Diz, the first turf stakes of the season at Pimlico. He prepped for his comeback with a pair of bullet four-furlong workouts in the identical time of 48 seconds over the main track at Laurel Park.

PHOENIX – Last year All Saint used a romping victory in the Wildcat Handicap at Turf Paradise to help earn horse of the meet honors. While the exploits of Derive, who has won six races this meet including three stakes, make repeating as horse of the meet likely impossible for All Saint, he stands a good chance to defend his title in the $35,000 Wildcat on Saturday.

A 1 3/8-mile grass event, the Wildcat drew a field of nine 3-year-olds and up.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - On Fire Baby will make her next start in the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Gary Hartlage said on Thursday morning. The filly had been under consideration for both the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy on Wednesday, April 11, and the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 14. Both races are at Oaklawn Park.

Hartlage said owner Anita Cauley made the decision.“She wanted a fresh horse for the Kentucky  Oaks,” Hartlage said.

The Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks is at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 4.

2015 Racing Dates

April 11  - December 6

Post Times

Live Racing Friday’s (beginning April 24), Saturday and Sunday - 1:00 p.m ET

Special Holiday Live Racing on Mondays – May 18, August 3, September 7 and October 12 and on Canada Day, Wednesday July 1 –  1:00 p.m. ET

Wednesday Night Racing begins May 27 at 6:45 p.m. ET with the exception of July 1 (Canada Day), August 5 and September 9.

Raymond “Butch” Lehr, who has worked in the maintenance department at Churchill Downs for 45 years, the last 30 as track superintendent, announced this week that he will retire, effective at the end of the spring meet on July 1.

Lehr, 63, began his Churchill career in 1967 as a member of the backside maintenance crew. He was named assistant superintendent under Thurman Pangburn in 1976 and succeeded him in 1982.

The main track at Churchill often has been the object of praise among horsemen.

Hawthorne racing officials last weekend were forecasting an overflow field for the Illinois Derby, but anyone in the racing game knows that stakes field-size estimates coming from a race's host track tend toward optimism.

This time, they weren't exaggerating.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though Bob McNair no longer maintains the presence he once did in Thoroughbred racing, the sport is never far from his consciousness.

While he is preoccupied this week with meetings for the upcoming NFL draft, McNair, owner of the Houston Texans franchise, will take time out Saturday afternoon to watch Street Life run in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.