ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Jessica Pyfer, the champion apprentice of 2021, took off her mounts at Santa Anita on Sunday citing residual soreness from a kick sustained in the paddock on Friday. 

Pyfer, 24, said she intends to resume riding next Saturday. She is not booked to ride this Friday’s program. 

Pyfer was kicked on her right hip when she attempted to mount Tricky Ricky in the walking ring. Pyfer was briefly hospitalized on Friday, but was released after precautionary X-rays showed no damage. 

When the unraced 2-year-old colt Salta worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds from the gate at Santa Anita on May 14, trainer Keith Desormeaux knew it was time to find a debut race.

Desormeaux has entered Salta in a maiden special weight race at 4 1/2 furlongs on Sunday, opting for a May launch to the colt’s career instead of a race in June.

Desormeaux described the quick workout as “a convincing factor.”

BALTIMORE – Following his breakthrough victory in Friday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special, First Captain could be pointed to the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban Stakes on July 9 at Belmont Park, part-owner Terry Finley said Saturday morning.

Finley said he spoke briefly with trainer Shug McGaughey following the race and said a potential plan could be the Suburban followed by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 3 at Saratoga. Both races are run at 1 1/4 miles.

BALTIMORE – Interstatedaydream very well could have an international daydream in her future.

Her trainer, Brad Cox, on Saturday said that Interstatedaydream had come out of her Black-Eyed Susan victory on Friday here at Pimlico in good condition, and that owing to her being an Ontario-bred, “something at Woodbine could be in play.”

BALTIMORE – Super Quick, who crushed her foes by 14 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3, $150,000 Allaire duPont Distaff on Friday at Pimlico, will attempt to keep rolling off that career-best performance as she will next target the Grade 2, $350,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes on July 2 at Churchill Downs.

"That was kind of the goal going into” Friday, trainer Norm Casse said. "We were hoping she would run well, and then we could point her to something like that."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rich Strike was sent through his first breeze since his monumental upset of the Kentucky Derby when going a purposeful half-mile in 47.20 seconds Saturday morning over a fast Churchill Downs surface.

Owner Rick Dawson was in from Oklahoma to watch the work alongside trainer Eric Reed and jockey Sonny Leon from Section 321 in the Churchill grandstand. Rich Strike was ridden by Gabriel Lagunes in the solo drill when breaking off well before the half-mile pole over a fast track.

Trevor McCarthy will be off his mounts at Belmont Park on Saturday due to soreness in his lower back after being unseated at the start of Friday’s fifth race at Belmont.

McCarthy was named to ride all 11 races Saturday at Belmont.

“He just didn’t feel like he’d be able to give 100 percent,” Joe Migliore, McCarthy’s agent, said Saturday morning. “He’ll give it a try hopefully tomorrow, if not next week for sure.”

McCarthy is named on five horses Sunday at Belmont.

BALTIMORE – While all was quiet on the Preakness front Saturday morning, Mr Phil and Scarabea, were among the key scratches out of stakes on the undercard Saturday at Pimlico.

Mr Phil, the co-second choice at 3-1 and one of the bevy of speed horses in the six-furlong Maryland Sprint, scratched to run in an allowance race Sunday at Belmont Park, according to trainer Rob Atras.

The scratch of Mr Phil leaves a field of six in the Maryland Sprint with Disco Pharoah (5-2) and Jaxon Traveler (3-1) expected to be among the public choices.

BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter remained the Preakness Stakes favorite in early wagering Friday for Saturday's middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Advance wagering for the Preakness began when the windows opened for the 14-race Friday card at Pimlico. Epicenter, who Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle made the 6-5 morning-line favorite at the post position draw on Monday, remained at 6-5 about 6:30 p.m. Friday, following the last race of the day.

BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter remained the Preakness Stakes favorite as early wagering numbers began to come in midway through Friday's card at Pimlico.

Advance wagering for the Preakness began when the windows opened for the Friday card. Epicenter, who Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle made the 6-5 morning-line favorite at the post position draw on Monday, had been bet down to 3-5 as of 2:15 p.m. Friday, through six of 14 races on the Friday card.