NEW ORLEANS – Diane Pfister does equine therapy work and generally lends a hand in trainer Wayne Catalano’s string at Fair Grounds. Speaking of hands, Pfister’s left one sported a bandaged finger Monday morning.

“I lost part of my pinkie,” she explained. The wound’s source, a flashy chestnut with a mischievous eye, stood in the adjacent stall, having just digested several peppermints surely more satisfying than human flesh.

“I’ve had a lot worse happen. And it’s easier to take when it’s a good horse.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer John Servis would appear to have his contender for the Kentucky Oaks in Jaywalk. He hopes to have a horse for the Kentucky Derby as well.

One of his Derby prospects could be Lucky Lee, who will make his next start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 2 at Aqueduct.

Churchill Downs officials announced Thursday in conjunction with the release of its 2019 spring stakes schedule that the purse for the Kentucky Derby has been increased to $3 million, the first raise for America’s most prestigious race in 14 years.

Grade 3, $100,702 Sham Stakes, one mile, Santa Anita, Jan. 5, 2019
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Gunmetal Gray, by Exchange Rate
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Hollendorfer, Pearl Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds
Beyer Speed Figure: 82

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Last January, the Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire took the New York path to the Kentucky Derby, kicking off his 3-year-old season with a victory in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

On Tuesday, Mind Control, who won last summer’s Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, will try to follow suit when he heads a field of six entered in the $150,000 Jerome, the feature of a nine-race New Year’s Day program at the Big A.

Listed, $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile, one mile, Remington Park, Dec. 16, 2018
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Long Range Toddy, by Take Charge Indy
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Richard Eramia
Owner: Willis Horton Racing LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 82

Long Range Toddy edged stablemate Bankit by a head to win the $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Sunday, closing out a dream meet for their Hall of Fame trainer, Steve Asmussen.

It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Dunph in third and another half-length back to Asmussen trainee Tone Broke in fourth.

The first four finishers in the Springboard Mile earned Kentucky Derby eligibility points on a scale of 10-4-2-1. The race Sunday also closed out the meet at Remington. It was the richest of six stakes on the card.

Grade 1, $300,345 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity, 1 1/16 miles, Los Alamitos Race Course, Dec. 8, 2018
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Improbable, by City Zip
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd., and Starlight Racing
Beyer Speed Figure: 96

When Ghostzapper retired to stud at Adena Springs in 2006 there was never any question that he would be well patronized by breeders even at a $200,000 fee that proved unsustainable, since his nine wins in 11 starts included the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic, which earned him Horse of the Year honors.

Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, Dec. 1, 2018
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Maximus Mischief, by Into Mischief
Trainer: Butch Reid
Jockey: Frankie Pennington
Owner: Cash is King LLC and LC Racing
Beyer Speed Figure: 97