OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Morello, the undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 5, returned to the work tab Monday morning at Belmont Park, cruising an easy half-mile in 52.55 seconds over the training track. Morello is preparing for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 9 at Aqueduct.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A mere three weeks between races has become something of a rarity for a Kentucky Derby prospect, but trainer Kenny McPeek intends to forge ahead with his revised plan anyway.

It wasn’t long after Rattle N Roll finished sixth in his 3-year-old debut, the March 5 Fountain of Youth here at Gulfstream Park, that McPeek said the colt will wheel back in three weeks in the Louisiana Derby on March 26 at Fair Grounds.

Champion filly Echo Zulu will make her 3-year-old debut March 26 in the Fair Grounds Oaks after working to her connections’ satisfaction on Monday at Fair Grounds.

Echo Zulu was officially timed in 1:00.20 for a five-furlong, in-company work. Trainer Steve Asmussen said Echo Zulu galloped out six furlongs in “1:13 and change” and seven furlongs in a little over 1:26.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – All-sources handle on the 12-race Festival Day card on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs was a track record $20,778,222, crushing the former the record of $15.2 million, set last year on Festival Day. Nearly $3.7 million was bet on the Tampa Derby, a one-race record. Helping the Tampa cause was the fact both Aqueduct and Laurel Park canceled racing Saturday because of poor weather.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – When Chad Brown sent out the one-two finishers in both the Grade 2 Endeavour and Grade 3 Florida Oaks on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, he padded his incredible record at the 2021-22 Tampa meet.

Brown begins this week with 17 wins and 7 seconds from just 36 starters at Tampa this winter, a batting average of .470 that would be a cool .500 if he hadn’t also had the runner-up in both of those stakes. Bleecker Street (94 Beyer), now unbeaten in five career starts, won the Endeavour over Rocky Sky. Dolce Zel (76 Beyer) won the Florida Oaks over Spicer.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Brian Lynch was in his usual good mood Monday morning, and why wouldn’t he be? The trainer had heard all the talk about Classic Causeway not being fast enough, even after the colt’s victory on Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, and decided to wave it off.

“I’ve never done this,” Lynch said about having a serious Kentucky Derby prospect so late in the game, “and I’m going to keep enjoying it.”

A stable truly has depth when a morning-line favorite is scratched and another runner from the barn assumes the role of favorite and succeeds hours later.

Say the Word was withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes after sustaining a cut in a stall incident on race morning, trainer Phil D’Amato said. That afternoon, Acclimate was sent off favored, took his usual position at the front, and held off a sustained threat from Dicey Mo Chara to win his first stakes since June.

Acclimate is an 8-year-old gelding who is not acting his age.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Bo Hirsch and trainer Michael McCarthy have decisions to make with Ce Ce, the reigning champion female sprinter who won around two turns Saturday in the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri at Oaklawn Park.  

The Azeri serves as the final local steppingstone to the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom on April 23 at Oaklawn. Ce Ce won the race in 2020, and again will be considered for the 1 1/16-mile handicap, McCarthy said Sunday.  

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown has tweaked his plans for some of his bounty of stakes horses, including his 3-year-olds who are or were pointing to Kentucky Derby points-scoring races.

Brown said Friday that he plans to scratch Money Supply from Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Brown said the combination of post 11 and an expected wet track given an ominous forecast are the reasons to scratch. In his only start, Money Supply won a six-furlong race at Tampa on Feb. 12.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York stewards took no action against jockey Jose Lezcano for his peculiar ride aboard Foxtail in Sunday’s first race at Aqueduct.

Lezcano was aboard Foxtail, the 2-1 second choice in the race. Lezcano seemed to have a handful of horse as he cruised up to the leaders three wide at the quarter pole. Lezcano did not ask his horse for run, but kept looking to his inside, specifically at That Is Key, who Foxtail was at least a length in front of.