Horse Racing News on April 6, 2011

This year, Godolphin will start a little early when Buffum returns from Dubai to run in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

The New York-bred Ava K. steps out of New York-bred company and will take on six 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 3, $150,000 Comely Stakes at one mile Saturday at Aqueduct.

John T. Ward Jr. grew up just outside the back stable gate at Keeneland and became a local legend by training horses to win a number of major races, most notably the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos.

An eclectic field of 12 was entered for Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct, including Be Bullish, who would be making his third start in nine days if he were to actually start in the seven-furlong race.

Thanks to the miracle of modern science, the big horse in trainer Todd Beattie's barn is ready to resume racing for the first time since the fall of 2009.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Wednesday approved a settlement with John Velazquez that will require the jockey to pay a $10,000 fine on charges lodged last month related to the Life At Ten incident at the Breeders' Cup last year.

Uncle Mo arrived at his Belmont Park home at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday and two hours later was assigned post 5 for his engagement in Saturday's $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, where he will face nine opponents.

Team Valor International's Pluck, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last November, heads a field of 10 three-year-olds in Friday's 23rd running of the $100,000, Grade 3 Transylvania, the opening-day feature of Keeneland's 15-day spring meeting.