OZONE PARK, N.Y. – An ankle issue, presumably the result of an incident that occurred in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, will keep High Oak from running in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 9 and eliminate any hope of him making the Kentucky Derby, part-owner Lee Einsidler said Wednesday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While his brother Rudy Rodriguez is about to wrap up Aqueduct’s 2021-22 winter meet trainers title, Gustavo Rodriguez has put together a solid season of his own.

NEW ORLEANS – A strong comeback race last month has the promising colt Proxy set to return to stakes action on Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes, with trainer Mike Stidham hoping the minor physical issues that plagued him last year are in the rearview mirror.

Proxy finished second in the Lecomte and Risen Star here last year, but subsequently was fourth in both the Louisiana Derby and then the Lexington before going to the sidelines. He was idle for more than 10 months before his comeback race.

NEW ORLEANS – Mandaloun’s long international nightmare is over. Stuck in Saudi Arabia for weeks following the Saudi Cup, he finally got back to the United States on Sunday and is currently in quarantine in Chicago through this coming weekend, trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday morning at Fair Grounds.

Cox said he and Juddmonte Farms' Garrett O’Rourke agreed that Mandaloun will get a brief freshening at Juddmonte after he gets out of quarantine.

NEW ORLEANS – Trainers at Fair Grounds were thankful Wednesday morning that the severe weather that hit this city on Tuesday night, and included a tornado that touched down mere miles to the east, did not impact the track, which still is minus two barns from when Hurricane Ida struck last September.

“We dodged a bullet, for sure,” said Scott Blasi, the top assistant to Steve Asmussen. “A lot of people are in worse shape than we are. A lot of people are hurting.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Connie K, who has won her last three starts topped by the $150,000 Downthedustyroad on March 5 at Oaklawn, could see more stakes action at the meet, according to trainer Randy Morse.

Morse said there is an outside chance Connie K could run back in the $200,000 Carousel on April 2. He said the other option is to move her to two turns for the $150,000 Natural State for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares May 6.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The next move with Pauline’s Pearl, who went over $1 million in earnings with her fast-closing second in the Grade 2 Azeri on March 12 at Oaklawn, is to be determined, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

“We’re obviously very proud of her,” he said. “She’s a top class filly. With the blessing of having her and Clairiere for Stonestreet, we’ll keep them separated. It’s undecided as to where she runs next.”

Imprimis, a standout turf sprinter, has been retired because of a minor ankle injury that precluded him from further racing, trainer Joe Orseno said Wednesday.

“We maybe could’ve swam him and rehabbed him for six months and brought him back,” said Orseno, “but he’s just been too good to us to ask him to do all that at his age.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Chasing Time has punched his ticket to the Arkansas Derby.

He worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 on Monday at Oaklawn Park and on Tuesday trainer Steve Asmussen said the horse is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1.25 million race on April 2.

Chasing Time was a more than seven-length allowance winner in his two-turn debut Jan. 14 at Oaklawn. He returned to run a close fifth in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Feb. 26.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – In Due Time, the runner-up in an eventful running of the March 5 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, will bypass the April 2 Florida Derby in favor of a later Kentucky Derby prep, according to trainer Kelly Breen.

In Due Time has not breezed since the Fountain of Youth but will do so later this week at the Palm Meadows training center, said Breen.