Jockey Carol Cedeno will make her return to the Mid-Atlantic region in the first race Friday at Laurel Park. Since fracturing her wrist in a fall at Meadowlands Racetrack last September, she has gradually recovered and feels prepared to take on full afternoon slates soon.

“I feel great,” Cedeno said. “I’ve been going to the gym and I have the Equicizer [a mechanical horse] at the house. I’ve been breezing horses a lot, so I’m ready.”

Jockey Eliseo Ruiz is under investigation for his ride in Tuesday’s ninth race at Parx Racing, in which he ceded a considerable lead after failing to use his crop in the stretch.

Ruiz was riding Bailout Billy in a first-level allowance and carried a commanding early lead into the stretch when the 4-year-old filly suddenly began fading back toward the field. The jockey looked back several times as challengers drew near, but he did not appear to urge his filly. She was eventually passed by 9-5 favorite Cocktail Humor, who won by a half-length.

In Celtic Contender’s first race back from an eight-month layoff, trainer Hamilton Smith was expecting a promising allowance performance to propel the 5-year-old back into stakes company. It’s safe to say he’s ahead of schedule.

“We expected to see a good effort out of him, but he exceeded that a little bit,” Smith said.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – If you build it, they will come.

That looks to be the case for horses and horsemen, and it should be the case for fans, as Keeneland opens its 15-day spring meet Friday. The Kentucky circuit’s big purses are already drawing the typical large fields for a meet that will offer record stakes rewards, and Keeneland will debut the rest of its new paddock building for patrons after completing the largest capital improvements in its history.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jose D’Angelo said drawing an inside post with Bentornato for last Saturday’s $2 million Golden Shaheen was his lone concern going into the race. And in the end, his instincts proved correct after the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner finished second behind defending champion Dark Saffron following a bit of a slow start in the Group 1 dash at Meydan.

No plans have been set for Touchuponastar, but the $750,000 Alysheba on May 1 at Churchill is one of two races that owner Jake Delhomme and trainer Jeff Delhomme are tentatively considering for the standout Louisiana-bred 7-year-old.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Counterbalance, winner of the China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on March 8, will miss Sunday’s $100,000 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita in favor of Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland.

Aside from the significant difference in purses for the turf races, trainer Michael McCarthy said the one-mile distance of the Appalachian is preferred over the Providencia Stakes, run at 1 1/8 miles.

“I think a mile and an eighth is more than what she is looking for,” McCarthy said.

The weekend news that leading Kentucky Derby hope Paladin had suffered an injury and will not race in the Triple Crown drastically altered the complexion of Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes, Paladin’s intended final Derby prep.

The Blue Grass favorite out of the picture, Reagan’s Honor’s Blue Grass stock has risen, and a Sunday workout at Keeneland, his first since shipping from Fair Grounds, did nothing to alter that notion.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in 2024, will have a delayed start to his 2026 season.

Trainer Phil D’Amato withdrew Stronghold from Sunday’s Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita in favor of races at Keeneland or Oaklawn Park in coming weeks.

“I think he’s one work away,” D’Amato said on Sunday morning. “There are a couple of spots at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland. I think they will prove to be better, timing-wise.”