Balnikhov, who has had mixed results in his first three starts in the United States in stakes for 3-year-olds on turf, will be trainer Phil D’Amato’s leading hope for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 22.

Balnikhov will have a new rider in the Oceanside. D’Amato said on Friday that the Irish-bred gelding will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli.

Brigadier General will be scratched from Saturday's Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and will instead target the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby on July 9, trainer Dallas Stewart said Thursday night. 

Stewart added in a text message that the colt was "fine." 

The scratch of Brigadier General, who has shown improved speed in three starts since adding blinkers, will reduce the field for the Ohio Derby to seven. The favorites on the morning line are Kentucky Derby also-rans Tawny Port, at 3-1, and White Abarrio, at 7-2. 

Before Keeneland hosts the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the third time, the track will offer 22 stakes worth a record $8.75 million during its fall meet, the track announced Thursday.

The 17-day season runs from Oct. 7-29, with the Breeders’ Cup following on Nov. 4-5.

Louisiana Downs will move first post to 4:15 p.m. Central on Saturday and Sunday due to a forecast for extreme heat.

The high for Saturday in the Bossier City, La., area is projected to be 102 degrees, according to AccuWeather.  

Louisiana Downs normally has a first post of 1:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. First post for Monday and Tuesday will remain 3:05 p.m., according to the announcement from the track.  

Over the last week, other tracks have adjusted post times due the heat wave hitting the middle part of the country.  

Deshawn Parker became the 21st jockey to reach 6,000 career wins when he piloted For Mama to victory in the seventh race June 21 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Parker had only three mounts on the card and won the third race on Wicked Intent to hit 5,999 winners. 

Parker, 51, began his jockey career in 1988 after growing up around racing through his father, Daryl, who held various positions around the track, including clerk of scales. Daryl Parker passed away in 2021, and Parker said he was riding Tuesday night in memory of his father. 

ELMONT, N.Y. - Echo Zulu, the 2021 2-year-old filly champion who was scratched from the Grade 1 Acorn just minutes before the start of the race, is back at Churchill Downs with trainer Steve Asmussen.

According to David Fiske, racing manager for owner Ron Winchell, Echo Zulu may have “a little strain in a suspensory left front,” he said.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Radio Days was among the 3-year-old fillies nominated to the Mother Goose at Belmont Park on Saturday who were not entered in the race. Trainer Shug McGaughey said he is pointing Radio Days to the $100,000 Boiling Springs Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 3.

Previously run on the turf, the Boiling Springs this year will be run on dirt at a mile and 70 yards.

“I want to keep her around two turns and try to win a stakes with her,” McGaughey said.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The glut of stakes for 3-year-old fillies has had a negative impact on New York.

Two weeks ago, the Grade 1 Acorn drew a field of five, but ultimately went with four after the late scratch of race favorite Echo Zulu due to a lameness issue. Wednesday, when entries were taken for Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose at Belmont Park, the race drew only five led by the Grade 1 winner Juju’s Map.

A few hours after he secured the riding title at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting on Sunday, jockey Juan Hernandez was on a flight to Mexico City.

It was time for a five-day vacation to visit family.

Hernandez finished the 76-day Santa Anita meeting with 104 wins, well clear of second-place Flavien Prat with 73, and Tyler Baze, who was third with 54.

Jockey David Cabrera is scheduled to return to race riding towards the end of July at Prairie Meadows, his agent, Jose Santos Jr., said Tuesday.

Cabrera has been sidelined since April 8, when he sustained injuries to his back and face when thrown from a mount in a race at Oaklawn.

Cabrera went home to Oklahoma to recuperate and is scheduled to ride the upcoming meet at his home track of Remington Park, where he is a multiple title winner. The season starts in August.