Horse Racing News by Jay Privman

There was plenty of debate after the Del Mar Derby, owing to the antics of Twirling Candy and the decision by the stewards to leave him in first after a severe bumping incident five furlongs from the wire.

In his best race yet, J P's Gusto turned the Grade 1, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity on Wednesday into a one-horse show.

Gotta Have Her successfully defended her title on Monday in the Palomar Handicap, winning the Grade 2, $150,000 grass race for older fillies and mares after overcoming a dawdling pace.

Joel Rosario was the riding star of the day on Saturday at Del Mar, winning five races, and he saved his best work for late in the card in the Grade 1, $300,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes, when he sent El Brujo to a front-running victory with an aggressive ride.

The Usual Q.T. drew the outside post on Tuesday night when a field of 10 was entered in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday at Del Mar.

Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, so too has Awesome Gem returned to Del Mar. Now age 7, Awesome Gem has become something of a fixture here. On Saturday, he will run in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic.

The contemporary Hall of Fame inductees include Azeri, Best Pal, and Point Given, all California-based runners.

South Florida can be awfully inhospitable this time of year, be it the heat, the humidity, or the results for shippers for the Summit of Speed.

The complexion of the Grade 1, $250,000 Test Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga changed dramatically Thursday afternoon, when Franny Freud, the morning-line favorite, was removed from the race because of an injury.

Lookin At Lucky, who scored a powerful victory in the Haskell Invitational on Sunday, is still at Monmouth Park, recovering from a minor illness from which he is improving, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday morning at Saratoga.