Trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci continued his strong showings in the New York Racing Association’s “Under 20s Claiming Challenge” by capturing his fifth straight title in the series at the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park.

Former track announcer Tom Durkin moderated a spirited panel of retired jockeys as part of the Thoroughbred Owner Conference series’ sixth session, which was held Aug. 3.

Encouraged by the success it helped spark at Del Mar, track officials have announced the popular “Ship & Win” program, also in place this past May at Santa Anita, will continue to be in effect through Santa Anita’s upcoming 2021 Autumn Meet.

The top three finishers of the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3T), led by Bal Mar Equine’s Dalika, will try to transfer their form from the Delaware turf to the New York lawn for the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course

Best Pal Stakes draws promising Gulfstream maiden winners Pappacap from Mark Casse barn and Finneus, the $200,000 sale topper at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale.

Remembering American classic winner, champion, and prominent sire Bernardini with Michael Banahan, director of farm operations for Godolphin’s Darley Stallions at Jonabell Farm.

Godolphin’s Shared Sense, last year’s Indiana Derby (G3) and Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner, is the morning-line favorite for the $60,000 Tri-State Overnight Stakes at Ellis Park Aug. 7 over a mile on dirt, one of four stakes there Saturday.

Six-figure maiden purses are forecasted during September race meets in Kentucky, Kentucky Downs and Churchill Downs representatives revealed during an Aug. 3 meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee.

When NYRA television analysts Andy Serling and Anthony Stabile kiddingly challenged one another to a mini-golf game during the July 18 broadcast of Talking Horses at Saratoga Race Course, neither could ever have dreamed the outcome. 

When Saratoga stages the Longines Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 7, more than the horses will be attention grabbers. Also noteworthy is the Test participation of trainer Bob Baffert, who runs Illumination in a field led by grade 1 winner Search Results.