WHO’S HOT

Interruptions, one minor, then a bigger one beyond control, have been a theme through the brief, promising career of Honor A. P.

He missed a scheduled start in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita back in January owing to a foot bruise, which meant his 2020 debut in the San Felipe Stakes in March marked his first start in nearly five months. He ran strongly, finishing second to the highly regarded and unbeaten Authentic. It was seemingly an ideal prep for the Santa Anita Derby four weeks later.

Will Rogers Downs near Tulsa, which closed out its Thoroughbred meet in May, announced Wednesday it handled $131 million on its races this season compared to $16.8 million during the corresponding meet in 2019, a staggering increase of almost 700 percent.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Jockey Mike Luzzi, who spent a brief period riding at Lone Star Park alongside his son Lane Luzzi, has returned to New York, said agent Bradley White, who represented Mike Luzzi in Texas.

White said Luzzi is back at Belmont Park, which opened Wednesday. Luzzi long has been based in New York.

White represents Lane Luzzi, who continues to ride at Lone Star.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has promoted Jason Milligan to vice president of racing, the track announced Monday.

Milligan has been with Oaklawn for 25 years, starting in customer service in 1994. He takes over the racing position from Jed Doro. Milligan has been director of operations for Oaklawn the past 11 years. He is a native of Hot Springs.

The Texas Racing Commission on Tuesday approved amended dates requests for 2020 meets at Lone Star Park near Dallas and Retama Park near San Antonio.

Lone Star has received approval for a 36-date meet through Aug. 2. The track opened May 22, about five weeks later than scheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., will roll out a new racing format when it opens its mixed meet Friday night. The track will have straight Thoroughbred cards every Monday and Tuesday and feature Quarter Horses on Fridays, Saturdays, and two Sundays.

“This is the first time splitting the breeds up,” said Kelly Cathey, executive director of the Oklahoma Racing Commission.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Whitmore, the most accomplished sprinter on the grounds, isn’t among the older horses entered in the Aristides, which will share the Saturday spotlight at Churchill with another $100,000 race, the Grade 3 Dogwood. Trainer Ron Moquett said he intends to race Whitmore, an earner of more than $3.1 million, at the brief Keeneland meet next month, “then probably once in New York” in preparing for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Buff Bradley has a lot on his plate these days. Aside from working his stable back into shape, the 56-year-old trainer is dealing with personal and health issues that might otherwise overwhelm a lesser soul.

Bradley returned to his native Kentucky on March 23, two days after the final card of the 2019-20 meet at Fair Grounds, where Bradley had wintered. His entire stable soon was back with him at spacious Indian Ridge Farm in Frankfort, Ky., where his late parents built the family home in 1972.

With the Belmont Stakes on June 20 an option for his next start, Pneumatic – third most recently in the Matt Winn Stakes – has been nominated to the Triple Crown, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

Pneumatic was not an original nominee to the Triple Crown for $600 back in January because he was not going to be ready for the original dates of the Triple Crown, Asmussen said. But with the postponement of all three races, Pneumatic was made eligible for $3,000 by the second deadline Wednesday.