WHO’S HOT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Since moving his stable from South Florida to Kentucky, Carlo Vaccarezza took a while to warm up, going winless with his first 14 Churchill starters. But not only did Vaccarezza send out his first winner of the meet when Uncle Gregory scored at a $58.20 mutuel in the seventh race Saturday, but Parkland rallied stoutly to finish second at 68-1 in the final race the same day.

Parkland, by Midnight Lute out of Hay Jude, is a 4-year-old half-brother to Little Mike, a multiple Grade 1 winner who earned more than $3.5 million for Vaccarezza and his wife, Priscilla.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bret Calhoun harbors a certain empathy for absent racing fans that will be amplified this weekend amid the sounds of silence at Churchill Downs.

“These are the races they come out to see,” said Calhoun, referring to Saturday showdowns in the Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis. “It’s a shame we won’t have the fans here to enjoy them.”

Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa., is planning to reopen for live racing on July 27, the head of the state’s horsemen’s group said Tuesday.

Stewards at Indiana Grand Racecourse have issued a 30-day suspension to jockey Gabriel Saez for his role in a racing accident in the fourth race on June 17.

Saez was riding Justtequilatalkin in a 2-year-old maiden race when, a furlong or so into the short sprint, his mount, racing on the lead, drifted in and set off a chain reaction that caused three horses and riders to fall.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Roger Attfield has been heating up at the meet with his turf runners, most recently with Art of Almost, who won a second-level optional claimer with determination last Sunday.

“She came out of it well,” Attfield said. “We’re in good shape.”

Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., will be allowed to admit spectators when the track opens its live meet July 3, but track officials are still awaiting guidance on limitations that will apply to attendance, the track’s top official said Tuesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Grade 1 winner Come Dancing will return to sprinting and Belmont Park when she heads the field for Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Vagrancy Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Come Dancing came off a 6 1/2-month layoff in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles around two turns at Oaklawn and finished 12th of 14.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Promises Fulfilled will make his 5-year-old debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 True North Stakes at Belmont Park.

A five-time graded stakes winner, Promises Fulfilled has not run since finishing sixth as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland last October. Promises Fulfilled was brought back to race this year because his connections thought there would be ample opportunity to run for lucrative purses.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Twenty horses worked over the Belmont turf course during a little more than a half-hour span Sunday morning. Half of that group came from the barn of trainer Chad Brown, three of whom are expected to compete in graded stakes here Saturday, including Uni, who is slated to make her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the Grade 1 Just a Game.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.