LEXINGTON, Ky. – Joel Rosario and Luis Saez dominated the first two cards of the Keeneland spring meet that opened last weekend, but they’ll have to make room for another superstar in the jockeys’ room – at least for this week.

Irad Ortiz Jr., fresh from a six-win Saturday at Aqueduct, will ride Wednesday through Sunday at Keeneland in what is expected to be his only action here during a 15-day meet that runs through April 23. Ortiz will return to the state at some point late this month for Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs in Louisville, according to agent Steve Rushing.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Rock Your World, winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, will be trainer John Sadler’s fifth starter in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, and the first in seven years.

In 2014, Candy Boy finished third behind California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby. A month later, Candy Boy had a troubled trip to finish 13th behind that colt in the Kentucky Derby.

California Chrome raced in a stalking position in those wins. Rock Your World may have the same kind of prominent trip in the Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles.

Modernist came out of his victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Stakes “good, happy,” according to Leana Willaford, assistant to trainer Bill Mott.

After a slow break, Modernist was part of a contested, albeit slow, pace. He took the lead in upper stretch and then, after switching leads at the sixteenth pole, ran away from Haikal to win by 2 1/2 lengths. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - While she may not have faced the division’s best in winning Saturday’s Grade 3, Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct, Search Results got the right type of race to make her a contender for the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Saffie Joseph Jr. hopes Saturday’s three-win day at Aqueduct is just the start of a big year for his stable in New York.

The highlight of Joseph’s afternoon was Mischevious Alex winning the Grade 1 Carter Handicap by 5 1/2 lengths. It was the first Grade 1 win for the colt and the second career Grade 1 victory for Joseph, who in 2019 won the Pennsylvania Derby with Math Wizard. Mischevious Alex earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure for his Carter victory, his third straight win.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Essential Quality, the reigning divisional champion who remained unbeaten in five career starts with a neck victory Saturday over Highly Motivated in the 97th Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, exited the Grade 2 race in fine shape and will ship Monday to Churchill Downs, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday morning.

“He looks good this morning and I am happy with the way he came out of the race,” Cox said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Less than two weeks ago, it wasn’t inconceivable to think the Kentucky Derby would be run without the presence of trainer Todd Pletcher.

In a span of eight days, Pletcher now has four potential starters for the Kentucky Derby on May 1. On Saturday, Bourbonic and Dynamic One improbably finished 1-2 in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial to earn their trips to Louisville.

Bourbonic, at 72-1, was the highest-priced winner ($146.20) in the 95-year history of the Wood Memorial. Dynamic One was sent off at 15-1.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. tied a New York Racing Association record by winning six races on Saturday’s 11-race Wood Memorial card at Aqueduct.

Ortiz, in his third day riding at Aqueduct following a winter at Gulfstream Park where he was the leading rider, won three of the five stakes on Saturday’s program topped by the Grade 1 Carter on Mischevious Alex. He also won the Grade 3 Bay Shore on Drain the Clock and the Grade 3 Gazelle on Search Results.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mr. Buff, the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct, was scratched from that race after showing signs of colic Saturday morning, trainer John Kimmel said.

Roman Centurian, second in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30, was scheduled to be withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby after trainer Simon Callaghan said he was unhappy with the colt’s training on Friday.

A battery of tests will be conducted before race plans are finalized, Callaghan said.

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