Stellar Sound and Lady Mystify each returned from a lengthy layoff to win an allowance race on Thursday at Del Mar. Both will run in a stakes later in August.

Stellar Sound, third in three stakes in 2019 and 2020, caught 7-5 favorite Scotish Star in the final strides to win a six-furlong allowance race for fillies and mares on Thursday. A 4-year-old filly by Tapit, Stellar Sound, who paid $8.80, had not raced since a third in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos last December.

“I thought it was quite a comeback,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

Recent events led to a 2-year-old colt trained by Doug O’Neill to be named Haskelled in advance of his career debut in a maiden special weight race on Sunday at Del Mar.

On July 17, the Doug O’Neill-trained Hot Rod Charlie finished first in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, only to be disqualified for causing interference in the stretch. The decision was an expensive one. The Haskell had a purse of $1 million and paid $600,000 to promoted winner Mandaloun. Hot Rod Charlie was demoted to last.

A couple of capable 3-year-olds with stakes experience will line up alongside each other as likely favorites in the only allowance on an 11-race Sunday card at Gulfstream Park.

Fulmini and Kartano, both based at Palm Meadows, will break closest to the rail following the expected scratch of Big Thorn from the fifth race, a $52,000 first-level allowance at a mile on turf. Both are stretch-running types who stand to benefit from all the opposing speed to their outside, most notably Exchange Day and Todaystheday, both stretching out from a series of five-furlong races.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two key local stakes preps for the $1 million Queen’s Plate will be contested Sunday at Woodbine, with the running of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks and $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, but most of the key contenders for the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown appear to be comfortable training up to the Aug. 22 race.

Five Star General appears to be peaking at the right time for owner-trainer Glen Todd. Last year, Five Star General finished second behind Anothertwistafate in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile. Todd hopes the 5-year-old horse by Distorted Humor can one up himself when he runs in the premier race in the Northwest on Aug. 15.

“He just ran the best race of his life, so he is on full tilt right now,” Todd said.

HENDERSON, Ky. – Big fields with a number of recognizable names are shaping up for the seven Kentucky Downs preview stakes to be run next Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 7-8) at Ellis Park.

Six of the seven stakes are worth $100,000 and serve as preps for much richer races to be run during the six-day Kentucky Downs meet Sept. 5-12. All are scheduled for the Ellis turf, given that Kentucky Downs is a turf-only course.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jeremiah Englehart is sending River Dog against the wolves of the 3-year-old male sprint division in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.

River Dog, a New York-bred son of Twirling Candy who beat restricted company in his two starts, will meet multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie’s Warrior and Grade 1 Woody Stephens winner Drain the Clock in the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

The Amsterdam drew a field of six, including Crowded Trade, Flash of Mischief, and Mister Luigi.

At this time last year at Del Mar, a first-time starter closed from sixth in the last furlong to win a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at 16-1. Rombauer showed a sharp rally to win that day and has grown up nicely, winning the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May.

Saturday at Del Mar, there are eight 2-year-olds in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf. The field has two first-time starters, including the well-regarded Astronomer trained by Simon Callaghan.

Medina Spirit, who tested positive for the banned medication betamethasone following a win in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds on Thursday at Del Mar, his first recorded workout in more than six weeks.

Medina Spirit has not started since a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes on May 15 at Pimlico. Trained by Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit worked three furlongs in 37.60 seconds on June 14 at Santa Anita.

There are several reasons why Warren’s Showtime could start in the second Grade 1 race of her career in Sunday’s $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

“Breeders’ Cup. Money. Prestige. Broodmare value – all the above,” trainer Craig Lewis reflected Thursday.

The Hirsch is run at 1 1/16 miles and is the top race of the summer meeting for fillies and mares on dirt. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here Nov. 6.