LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Racegoers who’ve been denied access to Churchill Downs through the entire pandemic experience can finally get their fix of live racing.

Unlike at the 2020 spring and September meets, fans will be granted admission at Churchill throughout a 24-day fall meet that begins Sunday, provided they adhere to health and safety protocols as set forth by the state of Kentucky. They’ll be witness to what is sure to be an action-packed five weeks of racing, starting with an 11-race Stars of Tomorrow card restricted to 2-year-olds.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Art Collector, likely for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, was sent through a serious work early Thursday at Churchill when drilling a half-mile in 47 seconds under regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. Gallop-out times through the turn and into the backstretch were 58.80, 1:11.20, and 1:25, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.

“Very sharp,” Hernandez said. “It seems like he’s back to himself.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Field size is strong for the Stars of Tomorrow card that opens the Churchill Downs fall meet Sunday – with spectators allowed – as 115 horses, including 11 also-eligibles, have been entered in 11 races on a program restricted exclusively to 2-year-olds.

A pair of $98,000 stakes, the Street Sense (race 8) and Rags to Riches (race 10), are the highlights of a card otherwise comprised of one allowance (race 5) and eight maiden events. Both stakes will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A Canadian Triple Crown will be on the line in Saturday’s $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine for the first time since 2003, as Mighty Heart will look to become the 13th Canadian Triple Crown winner following victories in the Queen’s Plate on Sept. 12 and the Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 29 at Fort Erie.

The curtain comes down Saturday on the 17-day fall meet at Keeneland, although an announcement Wednesday regarding certain turf races being transferred to the main track serves as a stark reminder that two huge days of racing are still to be held this fall at the Lexington, Ky., track. Those are the Breeders’ Cup dates, Nov. 6 and 7.

Only one of three Saturday races carded for the turf will remain, that being race 9, the $75,000 allowance feature for 3-year-old fillies. Races 4 and 7 will be run on the main track.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cross Border and Somelikeithotbrown give trainer Mike Maker a strong one-two combination in Saturday’s $150,000 Mohawk Stakes, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf. The one caveat is that the two are a combined 0 for 7 at Belmont Park.

Granted, Cross Border’s last two starts at Belmont have come in Grade 1 stakes. He is facing New York-breds for the first time since he won the Lubash Stakes on July 22 at Saratoga. He is 3 for 3 versus statebreds, with all those wins coming in Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The connections of Mr. Buff hope a return to New York-bred competition results in a return to the winner’s circle when the 6-year-old gelding seeks a repeat victory in the Empire Classic on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Empire Classic – this year worth $175,000 compared to $300,000 last year – heads an 11-race card devoted entirely to New York-breds. There are eight stakes worth $1.2 million. First post is noon.

Apollitical Gold and HR Princess Jess, third and fifth in the $3 million All American Futurity on Sept. 7 at Ruidoso Downs, won divisions of the Golden State Million Futurity trials Sunday at Los Alamitos for trainer Eddie Willis to secure berths in the $1,104,550 final on Nov. 1.

HR Princess Jess, owned by Larry Rice, won the 10th of 12 trials, running 400 yards in 19.81 seconds for the sixth-fastest qualifying time. Apollitical Gold, owned by Grant Cox, won the eighth trial in 19.92 for the ninth-fastest qualifying time.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association announced protocols for jockeys wishing to ride at the Aqueduct 18-day fall meet that runs from Nov. 6 through Dec. 6.

Those who are considered members of the Aqueduct jockey colony who ride at another track during the Aqueduct fall meet must provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a five-day window in order to return to Aqueduct. For example, those who ride the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup card at Keeneland would need to return to New York on Nov. 8 take a test that day and again on Nov. 12 to ride the Nov. 12 card.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Funny Guy, runner-up to Firenze Fire in the Grade 2 Vosburgh here Sept. 26, returned to the work tab Monday, going an easy half-mile in 49.98 seconds over the main track in company with fellow New York-bred Tale of the Union.

Trainer John Terranova said he would definitely want to stretch Funny Guy out in distance for his next start, which could come as early as this weekend in the $175,000 Empire Classic for New York-breds at 1 1/8 miles, or the following weekend in the Grade 3. $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap going seven furlongs.