Horse Racing News on April 16, 2010

Wesley Ward has never run a horse in the Kentucky Derby, but that prospect seemed ever closer after Pleasant Prince finished second four weeks ago in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Belmont Park in New York should be a prime candidate for the 2011 Breeders' Cup and part of a permanent three- or four-track rotation for the event, Belmont officials said in a letter sent to Breeders' Cup board members Thursday.

The spring meet at Keeneland has coincided with an unofficial comeback tour for graded stakes winners trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

The plan for Bourbon Bay has gone perfectly this year - he is unbeaten in three starts over 1 1/2 miles on turf, including two stakes.

As the only million-dollar earner and starting highweight in Sunday's Sunland Park Handicap, Going Ballistic figures to have a big bull's-eye planted firmly on his flank.

No, Josie Carroll isn't monitoring every move that Rachel Alexandra makes, but she does have more than a passing interest in where the superstar filly shows up next.

Hot Dixie Chick, an easy winner of her lone start at 3, is being pointed to the Grade 3, $100,000 Eight Belles Stakes on the May 1 Kentucky Derby undercard.

With hopes for a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 diminishing by the day, Caracortado is likely to start in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park next Saturday.

Jockey Jim McAleney and trainer Danny O'Callaghan teamed up to capture last Sunday's Jacques Cartier Stakes with the crack sprinter Hollywood Hit.

Jockey Richard Migliore's riding career could be in jeopardy after it was discovered last week that he refractured the vertebrae in his neck. Migliore will undergo surgery at a Manhattan hospital next week.