OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After working for two of the most successful horsemen in the game, Seth Benzel believes the time is right to go out on his own. Beginning May 1, Benzel will leave his position as an assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher to open a public stable.

Benzel, 33, worked for Pletcher for nearly six years following a 4 1/2-year stint as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Starting at age 18, Benzel trained for two years at Finger Lakes, mostly for his father, before attending college for four years.

FLORENCE, Ky. - Adriano would be a cinch to make the field for the 134th Kentucky Derby after raking in $285,000 in graded earnings by capturing the Grade 2 Lane's End Stakes, but while trainer Graham Motion is leaving open the possibility of pointing in that direction, he called the Derby "unlikely" for the A.P. Indy colt.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The prospective starting lineup for Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park lost another member when Why Tonto sustained a minor injury that will sideline him indefinitely.

Make Me Zach, who also was expected to run in the Florida Derby, was withdrawn last week.

Why Tonto, who upset stablemate Cowboy Cal to capture the Hallandale Beach Stakes on the grass here on Feb. 16, wrenched his left front ankle last week, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

Churchill Downs was given approval by Kentucky regulators on Monday to offer a new wager during its spring meet that will require bettors to select the first five finishers in a race in order.

The bet, which is called the Super High Five, is currently being offered at Santa Anita in Southern California. Churchill's general manager, Jim Gates, said that the track plans to offer the wager on multiple races each day, typically on ones with 10 or more betting interests. Kentucky's racing regulations require a minimum of seven wagering interests for the five-horse bet.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Larry Jones has won three stakes races from seven stakes starters this meet at Oaklawn Park, and he will be looking to add to his strong record over the final three weeks of the season. He recently shipped in several horses for upcoming local stakes from his division at Fair Grounds, which ended its meet Sunday.

"We brought up a load," he said.

Among them is Honest Man, who won all three of his starts at Fair Grounds. In his most recent out, he won a March 7 optional claimer and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

Grand Minit just got up to win by a neck in the $60,000 Lagniappe Classic, the feature race on closing day at Fair Grounds.

The Lagniappe Classic was the only stakes race on the last day of the meet, at 1 1/16 miles on dirt for Louisiana-bred 4-year-olds and older.

While Grand Minit's entrymate, Mean Butterbean, dueled early with Hud's Playmate, jockey Curt Borque kept Grand Minit well back, racing in ninth until the half-mile pole.

Costume continued her dominance of the California turf female division this winter with a front-running win in the $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita.

Winning her second consecutive graded stakes, Costume held off a late run from 11-1 Immortelle and 2-1 favorite Lavender Sky to win the Grade 2 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf. She was timed in 1:48.08.

Fifteen and counting.

Peppers Pride moved within one victory of the modern-day consecutive win streak as she notched her 15th straight victory in Sunday's $100,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap at Sunland Park.

The defending champ, who carried high weight of 125 pounds, stalked the pace of Wild Gini and Complete Pride, pitched wide into the lane in the mile contest for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, and powered home to win by 1 1/4 lengths, keeping her record perfect with 15 wins in as many starts.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bold Chieftain ($5) wore down pacesetting Now Victory late to win the $70,980 March Madness Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

Now Victory, under Frank Alvarado, bounded to the front early, setting brisk fractions of 46.24 for a half-mile and six furlongs in 1:10.01 as he pulled clear of his four rivals by five lengths down the backstretch in the one-mile turf race.

Goosey Moose surpassed the $500,000 mark in earnings when he rallied for a two-length win over pacesetter Lil Jett in the $50,000 Spring Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. Lil Jett held second, while it was another half-length back in third to Dreamsandvisions.

Goosey Moose ($10.80) covered the seven furlongs for Texas-breds in 1:23.86. Quincy Hamilton was aboard for Israel Flores Horses and trainer Danny Pish. Goosey Moose earned $30,000 for his 10th win from 43 starts. He has now won six stakes and earned $518,010.