LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen closed with a flourish at the Churchill spring meet, winning eight races over the last seven days to overtake Brad Cox for the training title by a 25-23 count. This was a record-extending 26th time Asmussen has won or shared the title at Churchill, where he also is the all-time leading trainer in wins (846).

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While most of the Kentucky horsemen who aren’t headed for Saratoga or Colonial Downs for the next eight weeks or so will be staying home to compete at Ellis Park or Horseshoe Indianapolis, Florent Geroux is going in another direction.

“We’re going to Del Mar,” said Geroux’s longtime agent, Doug Bredar.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Jockey David Cabrera will launch his comeback Friday night at Lone Star Park. The rider is named on three horses in what will be his first mounts since April 8. 

Cabrera will then head to Prairie Meadows on Saturday to ride three stakes before returning to Texas to ride the remainder of the Lone Star meet that closes July 24.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Senor Buscador could see stakes action later this month at Del Mar after winning his comeback race Sunday at Lone Star Park. Trainer Todd Fincher said the horse is being considered for a start in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Diego on July 30.

Jockey Carlos Montalvo sustained minor facial fractures in a two-horse spill Monday at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and was released from a local hospital about 2 a.m. Tuesday, according to his agent, Bradley White.

Jockey Ry Eikleberry, who also went down in the fourth-race spill, returned to ride the remainder of the card and was in good condition Tuesday, according to his agent, Jose Santos Jr. Eikleberry is set to ride this week, said Santos, with racing at Lone Star resuming Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Classic Causeway, the speedy colt who won the Sam F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby before running poorly in both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, will try turf for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Park Derby.

Trainer Ken McPeek took over the training of Classic Causeway from Brian Lynch following the Kentucky Derby. The colt has since finished third in the Ohio Derby.

McPeek believes Classic Causeway’s speed could be dangerous at the Belmont Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles.

Howbeit never got a chance to perform as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday’s $75,900 Oak Tree Sprint at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.

A few strides after the start of the six-furlong race, Howbeit stumbled severely and unseated jockey Evin Roman. Howbeit ran with the field, and caused trouble when he carried a few rivals wide in the stretch.

On Sunday, trainer Mark Glatt said that Howbeit grabbed a quarter, but otherwise emerged from the incident without injury.

CYPRESS, Calif. – The Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 14 may have gained three runners after maiden race wins at Los Alamitos on Sunday by Man Child and President Z and Wizard of Westwood, who finished in a dead heat.

Man Child, a first-time starter trained by Ryan Hanson, led throughout a five-furlong maiden special weight to win by a half-length over Abeliefinthislivin, finishing in 58.17. Ridden by Ramon Vasquez, Man Child earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 62.

Hanson was left impressed by the way Man Child fought off two challengers in the final furlong.

ELMONT, N.Y. – That Joseph O’Brien is represented in one of the Grade 1 turf stakes for 3-year-olds to be run at Belmont Park this Saturday is no surprise. That O’Brien plans to base a small string of horses at Saratoga this summer is certainly a pleasant one.

O’Brien, based in Ireland, said Sunday he will have six stalls in Saratoga this summer, marking the first time he will have an extended presence at a North American track.

The 3-year-old filly Desert Dawn, third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May and in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on June 12, will have her debut against older fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 6, trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday.

The $400,000 Hirsch is run at 1 1/16 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Nov. 5.