OLDSMAR, Fla. – Todd Pletcher has won the Tampa Bay Derby a record five times, but he doesn’t want to hear it.

“I’ve lost it more than that,” he deadpanned.

True, but c’mon. Pletcher will take a shot at extending his record to six when he sends out three starters here Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in what was expected to be a capacity field of 12 3-year-olds for the 40th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Eighty-five qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby are at stake.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine has announced purse increases for overnight and Ontario bonus programs effective for this year’s meet, which begins on April 18.

The overnight increases, as much as 7.7 percent on base purses, apply to maiden special weight races and select maiden optional-claiming races. Overnight purses will average approximately $450,000 per card for 2020.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three horses trained by Joe Sharp have been disqualified from races in Kentucky last year after testing positive for levamisole, a de-worming agent that has already cost Sharp eight wins in Louisiana.

The three horses tested positive for levamisole after wins at Churchill Downs the last week of November, according to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission records. The owners of the horses agreed to forfeit the purses for the races after waiving their rights to have a split sample tested, according to the records.

Georgina Baxter, the Florida-based trainer who took over many of the horses trained by Ralph Ziadie after he was denied a license in 2018, is serving a 25-day suspension after three horses she trained tested positive for two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, according to documents provided by the state’s racing regulatory agency.

The suspension began on Feb. 24 and will run through March 19, according to the records. Baxter was also fined $7,500.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Angel Cordero Jr. was reticent to discuss the details of what led to the breakup between him and longtime client John Velazquez, but said he holds no ill will toward the jockey, whom he still considers part of his family.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stan the Man, who finished last behind Mr. Buff in the Jazil Stakes on Jan. 25, will seek to rebound in Saturday’s $125,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trainer John Terranova doesn’t have a real excuse for Stan the Man’s virtual no-show effort in the Jazil, other than deducing that he didn’t care for the deep, sloppy Aqueduct main track. Stan the Man had run well over wet surfaces in the past.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As he watched several sets of horses train Monday morning at Belmont Park, Henry Argueta, the longtime assistant to trainer Jason Servis, was still beaming with pride over Maximum Security’s victory in Saturday’s inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup.

“Super exciting,” said Argueta, who has been with Servis since 2002. “Amazing horse. And people don’t understand what a great job Jason has done with him. He managed that horse perfect. He would never run that horse if he wasn’t doing good.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While the last-place finish by Dennis’ Moment in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park may have dealt a setback to Dale Romans in his bid to get to the Kentucky Derby, the trainer will jump right back in the Triple Crown fray when he ships up Attachment Rate for Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The only anxious part of the enigmatic Hidden Scroll making his 4-year-old debut Sunday at Gulfstream came right before it, and not during it.

The Juddmonte Farms homebred acted up behind the starting gate for a few scary moments before allowing himself to be loaded without further incident into post 5 for the $44,000 first-level allowance at six furlongs. He proceeded to break sharply, put away one overmatched rival, then strolled to a 12 1/2-length romp, with jockey John Velazquez barely moving a muscle.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Chance It isn’t the only horse trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has on the Kentucky Derby trail at the moment. On Sunday, Joseph worked Ny Traffic and Disc Jockey, after which he said both would run in one of the upcoming Derby preps.