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ELMONT, N.Y. - Mother Nature will have a say in the complexion and the outcome of Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park.

SHAKOPEE, MN – Canterbury Park announced it has canceled its Friday card as a result of the state government shutdown.

Canterbury Park has been closed since July 1 when the state of Minnesota failed to have a budget in place. The state closure shuttered the Minnesota Racing Commission, which regulates racing at the state’s two racetracks, Canterbury and Running Aces Harness Park.

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MIAMI - Smash has earned high marks in each of his last two starts at Hollywood Park but will be making his first try over dirt in the Carry Back on Saturday at Calder. The West Coast invader, trained by Bob Baffert will also face the disadvantage of breaking from the rail in a compact lineup of six 3-year-olds signed on for the Grade 2 dash on the afternoon's Summit of Speed card.

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MIAMI - In addition to having Irrefutable in the Smile Sprint, trainer Bob Baffert will also be well represented in both graded stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday's Summit of Speed card at Calder, with May Day Rose in the $150,000 Azalea for fillies and Smash in the $200,000 Carry Back.

Lydia’s Last Step and Coyote Legend have been frequent rivals this meet at Lone Star Park. Lydia’s Last Step won the Premiere over Coyote Legend on opening night April 14, while Coyote Legend turned the tables a month later in a turf allowance. Saturday, the pair get a chance to settle the score. They will meet in the $75,000 Assault, one of four restricted stakes worth $325,000 on the Stars of Texas Day card at Lone Star Park.

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MIAMI – Two of the last three winners of Calder’s $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap, Benny the Bull and Big Drama, went on to earn Eclipse Awards as sprint champions in 2008 and 2010. Orientate accomplished the same feat in 2002. Both Big Drama and Orientate also won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint during their championship seasons.

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A win by Twirling Candy in Saturday’s $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup would put him solidly on course for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and solidify his hold at the top of the California handicap division.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Willcox Inn won the Arlington Classic on May 28 racing 1 1/16 miles over a wet turf course. Saturday, Willcox Inn will go 1 3/16 miles on what should be far firmer grass in Saturday’s American Derby, but the changes may only help the colt.

Willcox Inn won last time despite not particularly caring for a yielding course, trainer Mike Stidham said, and Stidham, who debuted Willcox Inn in a route race late last summer, eagerly awaits longer distances.

“The farther the better with him,” Stidham said.

As class drops go, the one Maple Leaf Kitten takes into Saturday’s eighth race at Ellis Park, a $28,000 first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is as noticeable as they come.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Gio Ponti enters this year’s Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes – to be run Saturday at Belmont Park – much the same way he came into last year’s Man o’ War. His connections hope he comes out of it the same way too – that is, with a victory.