HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two years ago, Imprimis stumbled at the break but was able to overcome an eventful trip to run down Bound for Nowhere to win the 5 1/2-furlong Shakertown at Keeneland. On Saturday, it was Bound for Nowhere who got away awkwardly but recovered to avenge that setback, wearing down Imprimis in the final stride to capture the Grade 2 turf fixture for the second time in the last four renewals.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park racing secretary Pat Pope on Monday was looking for a field of six to eight horses for the Arkansas Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race that rewards its winner 100 points for the Kentucky Derby. He said the probables are Caddo River, Concert Tour, Get Her Number, Hozier, and Super Stock, while those possible include Roman Centurian and Last Samurai.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby is the main event Saturday at Oaklawn Park, but the Racing Festival of the South stakes that was generating the most excitement Monday was the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.

The list of probables included champion Whitmore, C Z Rocket, Grade 1 winner No Parole, and Empire of Gold. Entries for the Count Fleet, one of four stakes here Saturday, were to be drawn Tuesday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While the majority of Northern horsemen stabled here this winter have packed up and headed home, not all have abandoned ship entirely just yet. The list of those still racing here includes Christophe Clement, who will drop Honey Pants into allowance company as the likely favorite in Thursday’s $47,000 main event, carded for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Phil’s fillies have been almost unbeatable in turf stakes at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

Saturday, trainer Phil D’Amato won the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile for older fillies and mares with Charmaine’s Mia and the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1 /8 miles for 3-year-old fillies with Going Global.

Both have won three turf stakes this year and will have at least one more start before the end of the Santa Anita season on June 20.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Soothsay emerged from her win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks in such fine condition that trainer Richard Mandella was cautiously making plans to test the filly in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Soothsay is unbeaten in two starts – a maiden special weight race at six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies on Feb. 26 and the $392,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. The $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks is run at 1 1/8 miles and will pit Soothsay against more experienced fillies.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gamine was the fourth champion of 2020 to win this year when she cruised to an easy score in Sunday’s Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

The outstanding female sprinter last year, Gamine performed well within herself to beat three overmatched rivals in the Las Flores at six furlongs. That was fine with trainer Bob Baffert. Ridden by John Velazquez, Gamine led from the start and won by five lengths, finishing in 1:09.52.

Charles Town Races in West Virginia has canceled its live racing programs for one week in order to perform maintenance on its racing surface, the track announced on Monday.

The four cards that are being canceled were scheduled for April 21-24. Live racing will resume on April 28, according to the track, which runs on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Monday he is making preparations to send Swiss Skydiver to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 17 after the 3-year-old filly champion of 2020 was sent through her second breeze since she captured her 4-year-old debut, the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 13. Swiss Skydiver went a half-mile in 48 seconds early Saturday at Churchill.

McPeek had considered waiting for the Grade 1 La Troienne on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill before opting for the $1 million Apple Blossom.

Up goes Frazier’s number

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Julien Leparoux has picked up the mount on Helium for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, trainer Mark Casse said Monday. Unbeaten in three career starts, Helium will run in the Derby off just one prep race as a 3-year-old, that being the March 6 Tampa Bay Derby.

Leparoux replaces Jose Ferrer, the 57-year-old veteran who guided Helium to his Tampa win. This will be the 13th time in the last 15 runnings that Leparoux has had a Derby mount, with his best finish coming aboard the Casse-trained Classic Empire, fourth in 2017.