ELMONT, N.Y. – In the days following Max Player’s victory in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1 at Aqueduct, while many were starting to talk Kentucky Derby, trainer Linda Rice seemed more excited about the Belmont Stakes.

She believed Max Player could be one of the rare individuals that would relish the 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont. Moreover, she believed with racing and time, Max Player could improve to the point where he’d be better prepared to tackle the upper echelon of the 3-year-old division, or at least those who were left following the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Indimaaj, who extended the even-money Blue Buff before finishing a game second over a sloppy track May 24, will likely be favored to defeat seven rivals in Wednesday’s $47,000 allowance and optional-claiming feature, carded at one mile on the main track.

Indimaaj overcame an awkward beginning to slip through along the rail and engage Blue Bluff in early stretch, finishing nearly six lengths clear of third-place finisher Colonel Liam. The victory was the fourth in a row for Blue Buff.

Flora Fantasy extended her winning streak to five in a row to kick off her 2020 campaign with a rail-skimming 4 3/4-length triumph in Sunday’s ninth race. The 6-year-old daughter of Cowtown Cat has fashioned the streak for four different trainers while having proven a popular item at the claim box.

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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has some key decisions to make regarding the future itineraries of his Kentucky Derby-bound 3-year-old Ny Traffic and Kentucky Oaks-bound 3-year-old filly Tonalist’s Shape, with the pair sharing top billing on Sunday’s work tab at Gulfstream Park.

Delaware Park in Stanton, Del., is set to open its rescheduled 2020 meet on Wednesday with full fields for a 10-race card and plans to welcome spectators ontrack.

Delayed three weeks because of the widespread disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening of Delaware’s meet has coincided with the lifting of some restrictions designed to mitigate the spread of the virus in the state, allowing the track to open its gates to spectators. The track’s casino, which provides subsidies for purses, has been open for two weeks, at reduced hours and capacity.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Quite a fuss was made about Steve Asmussen passing Dale Romans as the all-time leading trainer Friday at Churchill when Asmussen swept the early double with Drop Dead Gorgeous and Hulen.

But wait.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey David Cohen escaped serious injury Sunday at Churchill when his mount, Magic Star, abruptly jumped into the inner hedge of the turf course heading into the clubhouse turn.

Magic Star, a Grade 3 winner last year for the Don Alberto Stable and trainer Chad Brown, was racing in midpack alongside the hedge in the eighth race when she made the bizarre leap. No other horses or riders were affected.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – You might say Bruce Lunsford has expanded his horizons since he got into racing in the mid-1980s by partnering on lower-level claiming horses trained by Phil Thomas Jr.

ELMONT, N. Y. – She’s a Julie, upset winner of Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes, will remain at Belmont Park while her connections mull her next start. One possibility is the Grade 2, $400,000 Delaware Handicap on July 11 at Delaware Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Hidden Scroll will get a second chance to make a good first impression on the turf in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park.

Hidden Scroll was set to make his turf debut in an allowance here June 3. When the gates opened, he stumbled badly, unseating jockey John Velazquez. Hidden Scroll actually ran a lap around the course and was unharmed.

On Sunday, Hidden Scroll looked terrific in a four-furlong turf work that went in 47.83 seconds.

“I thought it was pretty nice,” trainer Bill Mott said succinctly.