Horse Racing News

Jockey Robby Albarado was in the custody of the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on Friday afternoon after being arrested on charges of domestic violence against his wife, Kimber, on Thursday night, according to Louisville Police.

R Heat Lightning may have established herself as the favorite for next month's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs with a dominant 8 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks at Gulfstream Park.

Awesome Maria was just that and then some Saturday at Gulfstream Park, destroying five rivals including reigning Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Unrivaled Belle with a devastating eight-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Rampart Handicap.

Leading trainer Bob Baffert nearly completed a sweep of the first three positions of Saturday's $100,000 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita, finishing first and second with Gilded Gem and Subsidized and fourth with Mother Ruth.

Without Flashpoint in the Grade 2, $150,000 Swale, everyone else's job just got a heck of a lot easier.

That performance will most likely make R Heat Lightning the favorite in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.

The $1 million Florida Derby was shaping up to be the most intriguing Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands prep of the season anyway. With speedball Flashpoint now involved, it has become a must-watch race for all those handicapping the Triple Crown.

With or without Jaycito, the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9 is likely to have a large field.

Flashpoint is scheduled to run Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The question is will he go postward as the odds-on favorite in the seven-furlong, Grade 2 Swale or as the one to catch later that afternoon in the $1 million Florida Derby?

Elite Alex, the well-regarded 3-year-old who finished fourth in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby last Saturday, is back at his Oaklawn base and pointing for the Arkansas Derby, said his trainer, Tim Ritchey.