It’s nearly eight months away, but that won’t stop racing fans from thinking about the first weekend in May at Churchill Downs when back-to-back stakes for 2-year-olds are run Saturday as part of a four-stakes package.

The Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois Stakes is the first of 35 points races toward the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Similarly, the Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes – the richest race of the September meet – is the first of 31 points races to the 2016 Kentucky Oaks. The winner of each 1 1/16-mile race will earn 10 eligibility points.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher, already the sport’s all-time leading trainer in terms of purse money won, is closing in on the $300 million mark in earnings.

Through Wednesday, Pletcher’s horses have earned $299,257,161 in purses. That figure is $26 million more than D. Wayne Lukas, who ranks second in purse money won.

Pletcher has 3,844 wins from 16,794 starters. He enters the Belmont fall meet after winning his 12th Saratoga training title.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Thanks to a pair of supplemental nominations, Saturday’s co-feature, the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes at 1 5/8 miles on dirt, filled with four horses. It will go as the third race on the 10-race card, and show wagering will not be permitted.

V. E. Day, last year’s Travers winner, will seek to end a five-race losing streak in the Temperence Hill. Two starts back, V. E. Day finished second in the Grade 2 Brooklyn here at 1 1/2 miles and then came back to finish fifth behind Honor Code in the Whitney at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The European invasion that New York Racing Association officials had hoped would materialize for the Stars and Stripes card two months ago happened for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Pickett Factor was made a slight morning-line favorite over Allied Air Raid for the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby on Saturday at Louisiana Downs. Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race were taken Wednesday.

The field of seven also includes Prime Engine, the Washington invader who will break from the rail, and Mobile Bay, who will break from post 7 under Edgar Prado.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With its lone winner being the obvious exception, the Dale Romans stable was unusually quiet at Saratoga this summer when sending out just 12 starters.

The low profile was partly by design and partly forced by circumstance. Romans still is looking to assemble the caliber of horsepower that earned him the Eclipse Award for top trainer in 2012.

“We were in kind of a regroup mode after an active winter and spring, looking forward to what we hope will be a big fall – although winning the Travers sure was great,” said Romans.

Wildcat Red, based at Gulfstream for most of the year, is being pointed for the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh on Sept. 26 at Belmont Park, trainer Jose Garoffalo said on Tuesday.

Wildcat Red was a bold fourth to Private Zone in the Forego at Saratoga in his most recent start Aug. 29. He pushed a hot pace in the seven-furlong race, which went in 1:21, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Perfect Step has had a flawless summer at Gulfstream Park. She’s won all three of her starts at the meet and will attempt to make it four in a row Friday in the $75,000 Hard Worker.

“I think she’ll run well,” said Peter Walder, who on behalf of Matthew Newman and Aventura Stable claimed Perfect Step two starts ago.

A scheduling quirk and a blast of hot weather will present challenges as the San Joaquin Fair in Stockton begins a six-day meeting on Friday.

The heat was only the latest impediment racing officials faced. Only 31 Thoroughbreds signed up for five races on Friday as temperatures were predicted to hit 107 degrees during the first two days of the fair.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Point Piper, the well-bred colt who sprang a $62 upset in the $86,000 Harry F. Brubaker at Del Mar on Aug. 28, will jump into a Grade 1 for his next start, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Wednesday.

The $300,000 Awesome Again, one of five Grade 1’s at Santa Anita on opening day, Sept. 26, is the target for Point Piper.

“I think he deserves a chance,” Hollendorfer said.

In fact, Point Piper could be one of the favorites.

Point Piper earned a career-best 95 Beyer when he won the Harry F. Brubaker by a half-length.