Horse Racing News by Marty McGee

Scott Lake became just the sixth trainer in North American racing history to register 5,000 victories when Communicator captured the first race Wednesday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Mackenzie "Mack" Miller, the Hall of Famer who personified the old school of gentleman trainers, died Saturday morning at the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Julien Leparoux and Kent Desormeaux have been suspended three racing days apiece for their roles in the disqualifications of their mounts in the Clark Handicap on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Rare is the horse who captures a Grade 2 race to lose its maiden condition, but that's what Santiva did Saturday in emerging best in a thrilling three-horse finish to capture the $165,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes under the lights at Churchill Downs.

A very roughly-run 136th running of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs resulted in two disqualifications for separate incidents, with Giant Oak being awarded victory after Successful Dan was deemed guilty of interference in the stretch.

Steve Asmussen has trained the last three winners of the Horse of the Year title in North America, those being Curlin (2007-08) and Rachel Alexandra (2009), both of them owned primarily by the Stonestreet Stables of Jess Jackson.

Dundalk Dust, a 3-year-old Illinois-bred filly who was last of six down the backstretch, blew away her five older rivals with a sensational stretch run Thursday in a rain-soaked 95th running of the Grade 2, $161,250 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Apart was assigned post 2 when 11 3-year-olds and upward were entered Tuesday for the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, which will be run Friday for the 136th time at Churchill Downs.

With regular rider Calvin Borel sidelined through the end of the year with the injury he sustained Saturday, Tony Farina will get the mount on Brass Hat for the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Friday.

Distinctive Dixie will try to follow up her sharp victory in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes by taking another Grade 2 race at Churchill, the $150,000 Falls City Handicap, the Thanksgiving Day feature that drew just six fillies and mares.