Horse Racing News by Bloodhorse

A year after Take Charge Indy left seven other 3-year-olds in his wake with a front-running score in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, he returns as one of the favorites in the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes March 30.

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, returned to Stonestreet Farm March 26 to begin the next stage of her recuperation following abdominal surgery performed mid-February at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington.

Unbeaten Verrazano is a solid morning line choice to emerge as the overall betting favorite in this weekend's third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will pay travel allowances to all participants shipping from outside California for the 2013 event at Santa Anita Park, it was announced March 15.

Fort Larned came out of his bad stumble at the start of the Gulfstream Park Handicap March 9 with a grabbed quarter, but otherwise escaped further injury, trainer Ian Wilkes reported the following morning.

Ramon Dominguez visited Aqueduct Racetrack March 10 for the first time since the three-time Eclipse Award winner was injured in a spill at the New York track Jan. 18.

Ive Struck a Nerve, the 135-1 upset winner of the Feb. 23 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, sustained an ankle injury during a workout the morning of March 9 and will miss both the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby

Violence, one of the winter book favorites for the Kentucky Derby, has been officially retired from racing and will reside at John G. Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington. The son of Medaglia d'Oro will not stand at stud this year.

Rachel Alexandra was described as "bright and alert with a good appetite" on the evening of March 7 after undergoing a surgical procedure at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to drain an abscess discovered in the morning.

Joel Rosario has sure gotten some live pick-up mounts following his decision to ride Speak Logistics instead of Orb, on whom he had won two in a row, in the Besilu Fountain of Youth Stakes.