Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Love was retired this week after disappointing results in two graded stakes at Santa Anita this year.

Trainer John Shirreffs said Hard Not to Love was flown to Kentucky on Friday.

The decision was made in recent days after Hard Not to Love worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 on Tuesday at Santa Anita, a slower-than-expected clocking.

“She seemed like she wasn’t quite as good as she was before,” Shirreffs said. “She’d been in training a long time without a break. It seemed like it was time to stop.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes for New York-breds failed to fill for Sunday, so a second-level allowance for statebreds tops the eight-race program.

Eloquent Speaker comes off a perfect setup to win a first-level allowance on Feb. 20, and looks to get a similar setup again on Sunday.

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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Limonite, a hard-charging second to Mr. Buff in the Stymie Stakes on Feb. 27., is being pointed to the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Stakes on April 3 when he most likely will meet Mr. Buff again.

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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Personally and professionally, this has been a good winter for jockey Trevor McCarthy.

Personally, McCarthy got married to fellow jockey Katie Davis last December. Professionally, McCarthy has enjoyed a solid winter meet at Aqueduct, winning 33 races from 226 mounts including the meet’s richest race, the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes. He ranks fifth in wins and in purse money won ($1,848,658).

“Really, this last month, things have gone super well,” said McCarthy, 26. “I’m just delighted.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – At least 10 3-year-olds are confirmed for the Florida Derby next Saturday, with Greatest Honour sure to be a heavy favorite in the annual Gulfstream Park signature event.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Mac Robertson has had some significant Rebel Days at Oaklawn. His latest came March 13, when he saddled Carlos L. to a 47-1 upset in the $150,000 Temperence Hill Stakes. Robertson won the main event in 2009, when Win Willy captured the Rebel at 56-1.

“It’s been a good day for me a couple of times,” Robertson said. “Anytime you win a race it’s [great]. When they win big, it’s got a little more oomph.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Jinks Fires will be making a notable circuit change after the Oaklawn Park meet ends in May.

Fires said Thursday that he plans to remain in Arkansas and will base at a Hot Springs training center rather than set up his usual division at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. He’s been a Churchill regular every year since 1961.

Santa Anita will begin hosting a limited audience on April 2.

The track announced Thursday that customers will be allowed to attend that day, but must make advance reservations. Walk-up or general admission tickets will not be sold, per California government guidelines for reopening outdoor sporting venues.

Ontario Racing and its Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee have announced the inaugural Ontario Sire Heritage Series, an eight-leg stakes series for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds that will be conducted at Woodbine and Fort Erie this year.

With a total purse structure of $750,000, the Heritage Series will feature four races – three opening legs and one final – for both 3-year-old males and 3-year-old fillies eligible to the Ontario-sired program.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Grade 3 Gotham Stakes winner Weyburn has been named the 3-1 winter-book favorite for the $1 million Queen’s Plate, which is scheduled to be run Aug. 22 at Woodbine

The Queen’s Plate winter book, compiled by Ron Gierkink and Alex Campbell of Daily Racing Form, assigns hypothetical odds to all 125 nominees for this year’s Canadian Triple Crown.