HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla – Chance It, considered a leading Kentucky Derby candidate prior to his disappointing performance in the Tampa Bay Derby, will spend the next two months on his owner’s farm in Ocala, Fla., trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. confirmed Friday.

Chance It won the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream over As Seen On Tv to kick off his 3-year-old campaign. Joseph opted to skip the Fountain of Youth after Chance It drew post 11 to run the following week in the Tampa Bay Derby, where he finished a tiring fifth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths by longshot winner King Guillermo.

The California Horse Racing Board approved a rule on Thursday that restricts the medications horses can be administered in the 48 hours prior to post time.

The rule is an alteration to an existing rule implemented earlier this year that led to confusion among trainers and changes to the days tracks took entries.

Tonalist’s Shape will have to overcome 11 opponents and an outside draw while going two turns for the first time when she attempts to remain undefeated in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Tonalist’s Shape is 5 for 5, including graded stakes victories this year in the Grade 3 Forward Gal, going seven furlongs, and the Grade 2 Davona Dale, going a mile. The Gulfstream Park Oaks is run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has announced that 30 people and horses, 15 from the Thoroughbred world and 15 from the Standardbred sport, have been selected to appear on the 2020 Hall of Fame voting ballot. A 20-person election committee for each breed will determine the recipients in their respective categories, and the results will be announced April 7.

The Thoroughbred builder ballot is made up of Charles Fipke, Philip Kives, and Sue Leslie.

Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., is ending its meet with three days left on the racing calendar after the state’s governor urged all non-essential businesses to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, the parent company of the track, Churchill Downs Inc., announced Wednesday night.

Turfway was initially scheduled to close its meet after a card on Saturday, following racing on Thursday and Friday. All three cards will no longer be held.

BH Lisas Boy, one of the leading older Quarter Horses in recent years, has been retired because of a minor knee injury, owner and trainer Bill Hoburg said earlier this week.

The injury will not require surgery. It was detected after BH Lisas Boy worked 220 yards in 12.60 seconds on Saturday, Hoburg said. BH Lisas Boy was sidelined with a knee injury in 2017.

An 8-year-old gelding bred by Hoburg in Idaho, BH Lisas Boy won 23 of 43 starts and earned $963,053.

The 2019-2020 Fair Grounds race meet which was halted early because of coronavirus unsurprisingly showed across-the-board business declines compared to the previous season.

The 2018-2019 meet marked a major rebound from the previous racing season in New Orleans, but those gains were wiped away this season by a meeting that ended six days early after the city was essentially shut down to minimize viral spread. The Louisiana Derby card of March 21 wound up being closing day instead of Sunday, March 29, the last scheduled racing day.

As the managing partner of Sackatoga Stable, Jack Knowlton desperately wants to watch the Florida Derby on-site. Sackatoga owns Florida Derby favorite Tiz the Law.

Florida Derby: News, contenders, and videos

Gulfstream Park is not allowing fans on the grounds, but Knowlton was hoping to be able watch from beyond the outer rail in midstretch to upper stretch.

That Gulfstream Park figures to be extremely quiet on Saturday because there will be no fans or owners in attendance may actually help Independence Hall.

Florida Derby: News, contenders, and videos

Independence Hall has been a handful for his handlers in the paddock, at least in his two races at Aqueduct. A more serene environment may help Independence Hall with his pre-race behavior.

“It should be pretty quiet,” trainer Michael Trombetta said. “That should help me.”

River Boyne, winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf March 7 at Santa Anita, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds Wednesday, but may not race until later in the spring.

Trainer Jeff Mullins said he does not have a race picked for River Boyne’s next start, which could be the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 25.

“We’re day-to-day,” he said. “It’s hard to think past tomorrow.”