Horse Racing News on February 7, 2018

Stronger Than Ever, the 3-year-old filly who scored an upset victory Jan. 13 in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, won't start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 17.

Dona Bruja will have a new rider in Eclipse champion Jose Ortiz when she faces La Coronel and Ultra Brat in a terrific lineup of eight older fillies and mares in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Endeavour Stakes on Saturday.

If anyone ever accuses Mark Casse of having Derby fever, well, he's got a good comeback. "Doesn't everybody?" Casse said, laughing.

Trainer Mark Casse said all systems are go with World Approval, the reigning Eclipse turf champion who will be using the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Stakes on Saturday as a prep for the $6 million Dubai Turf on March 31. John Velazquez has the return mount.

Trainer Mark Hennig was in New York on Wednesday, getting a little taste of winter as snow fell gently outside of his Belmont Park office.