After briefly considering a trip to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1, $750,000 Arkansas Derby on May 2, the connections of Max Player have decided to pass that race and wait for something closer to home in New York.

“I spoke to [owner] George Hall and we’ve decided that it’s too far to go,” Rice said by phone Friday from Belmont Park. “It’s going to be a pretty strong race and it’s a long way to travel so we’re going to stay here and hope that we reopen and have something that’s immediately in front of us.”

Scott Chaney, an attorney with an extensive background in racing as an assistant trainer and steward at Southern California tracks, has been named the executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, the regulatory body announced in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

Chaney replaces Rick Baedeker, who last fall announced his intention to leave the position after a successor was found. The racing board said Baedeker retired on March 31.

In order to be able to ride at Oaklawn Park on May 1-2, jockey Javier Castellano will have to self-quarantine somewhere other than New York for two weeks, according to his agent, John Panagot.

To satisfy that requirement, Castellano left New York for Florida on Thursday and will spend two weeks at his mom’s apartment in the Hollywood area before flying to Arkansas on April 30. He is scheduled to ride British Idiom in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes on May 1 and Farmington Road in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on May 2.

With limited graded stakes options for the foreseeable future, trainer Mark Casse is looking at a pair of overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park for two of his stable stars.

War of Will, last year’s Preakness winner, could return to the races in the $75,000 Sunshine Forever Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race May 9.

As with most of his colleagues, Tim Padilla would love to know when he can move on to his next outpost. Without moratoriums on racing imposed by the coronavirus, Padilla would be training horses at Canterbury Park in Minnesota by now.

“We’re all in a holding pattern,” Padilla said this week from Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla. “It’s a nightmare, really.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s already been a frustrating winter for trainer Scott Becker and his speedy Florida-bred filly Wildwood’s Beauty. The 4-year-old daughter of Kantharos has been run down in deep stretch in her last two starts, having to settle for second in both the Grade 2 Inside Information and Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes during the Gulfstream Park Championship meet.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Pirate’s Punch was a knockout winner in his Oaklawn debut earlier this month, and he could return for the track’s signature race for older horses. Trainer Grant Forster said Pirate’s Punch is a candidate for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap on May 2.

Pirate’s Punch was a five-length winner of an optional $100,000 claiming race April 3 at Oaklawn. He dueled for the lead and jetted clear, covering the 1 1/16 miles in a sharp 1:42.48. The performance was good for a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Mac Robertson has rolled out a number of impressive 3-year-old winners this meet, with the latest Skol Factor on the Oaklawn Stakes undercard April 11.

Skol Factor won a maiden special weight over six furlongs in 1:09.76. He led throughout for a 6 1/2-length win and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

“He’s a fast horse,” Robertson said Tuesday. “He did it easy the other day.”

Robertson said if Skol Factor were to run back this meet it would be during the last couple of days. The season closes May 2.

Del Mar officials are making plans to accommodate a full stable area from early July to early September this summer, but are unsure whether its popular race meeting will be held in front of spectators.

In an interview Wednesday, chief executive officer Joe Harper said there are three leading scenarios – a race meeting from July 18-Sept. 7 with spectators, a meeting without spectators, or a canceled race meeting because of the coronavirus outbreak.

WHO’S HOT

Mr. Big News, who won the Oaklawn Stakes on Saturday, and Shooters Shoot, who captured an allowance race earlier on that card, are the two newcomers to the Derby Watch top 20. Both are 50-1 shots on the future line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form for the Kentucky Derby, now scheduled for Sept. 5. Tiz the Law remains McGee’s favorite, at 3-1. McGee tweaked a couple of prices since the list was last updated. Charlatan remains his fourth choice, but he’s down to 6-1 after being 10-1 two weeks ago.