LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trainer Ken McPeek will never know if King Fury would have won the Kentucky Derby because, well, nobody will.

Instead, McPeek will have to settle for wondering “what if” after incurring the disappointment of having to scratch the late-running Curlin colt from the May 1 Derby with a minor but poorly timed lung ailment. King Fury has done his part in maintaining a foothold among the best of the current 3-year-old crop, with a 13-length romp in his last race, the Bourbon Trail on Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs, grading out to a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

The last six races on Fort Erie’s 10-race closing day card Tuesday were scrapped due to unsafe track conditions caused by heavy rainfall.

“Unfortunately, due to the continuous rainfall throughout the day, we could not carry out the remainder of the card,” said Drew Cady, the general manager for the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “Despite our shortened card, we still had a tremendous season, one in which we were able to welcome back fans who missed out on the 2020 racing season due to COVID-19 restrictions.”

The Louisiana Racing Commission on Tuesday approved the sale of Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., to Rubicon Acquisition Corporation. The matter was one of several topics addressed on a packed agenda that included an update on the track lighting issues at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., and extensive repairs made at Fair Grounds in New Orleans following Hurricane Ida.

Fair Grounds also addressed the commission about its desire to bar trainer Karl Broberg from participating at its upcoming meet.

Catdaddy will be a sentimental favorite in race 8, a one-mile allowance, Wednesday night at Remington Park because his co-owner Larry Dyson died last Thursday.

Dyson’s wife, Judy, said her husband had been sick much of the last year and died of a chronic disease. He was 77.

Dyson was a longtime breeder and owner based in Texas. His chief runners included Rare Cure, a seven-time stakes winner who earned more than $500,000, and Trickey Crew, a five-time stakes winner who banked $250,000. He also won multiple Quarter Horse stakes with Ima Real Thing.

Trainer Carl Deville has Tempt Fate gearing up for Arkansas-bred stakes at the Oaklawn meet, which opens Dec. 3.

Tempt Fate established himself as a leading contender for 2021 Arkansas-bred of the year honors by winning all four of his starts at the Oaklawn meet this year, including the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship and $150,000 Nodouble.

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Free Like a Girl made a splash at Delta Downs last Friday when she won the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel for 2-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana by 18 1/2 lengths and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 77.

“We’re very proud of her,” said trainer Chasey Deville Pomier. “She’s definitely something special.”

Pomier said Free Like a Girl emerged from the race “bright” and has upcoming stakes options in Louisiana and Arkansas.

Empire of Gold defeated a field of stakes winners in a Remington Park allowance last week and will now be freshened for a spring campaign at Oaklawn Park, according to trainer Terry Eoff.

Eoff said Empire of Gold would get some downtime at his farm in Texas. Earlier this year, the horse ran third in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn in his first start following a fourth-place finish in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The final graded turf stakes of the meet anchors an outstanding 10-race Friday card with an oversubscribed lineup of 3-year-old fillies clashing in the Grade 3, $150,000 Valley View Stakes (race 9).

Eleven of the 16 entered (including two also-eligibles) already have won stakes, led by Lady Speightspeare, winner of the Grade 1 Natalma last year at 2, and graded winners Crazy Beautiful and Gam’s Mission. Top to bottom, it’s an exceptionally deep cast.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A breakthrough year can only get better for Greg Foley when the veteran trainer sends out Major Fed in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes, the closing-day feature Saturday at Keeneland.

Foley runners already have earned more than $2.5 million this year, the highest annual total since he began training in 1981. Sconsin, Bango, and Yes It’s Ginger have combined for seven stakes wins, while Foley also had a Kentucky Derby starter for the second straight year when O Besos crossed under the wire fifth behind Medina Spirit on May 1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There were three handicap races run here Saturday, but the star of the day and the latest talk of the town came out of an innocuous-looking 2-year-old maiden event midway through the afternoon’s 10-race program. A modestly bred juvenile named Simplification dominated eight rivals by 16 3/4 lengths, drawing off with every stride through the stretch despite never switching off his left lead.