NEW YORK - Instead of discussing three playable stakes races, the Weekend Warrior is targeting Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, with comments on the 23 individual betting interests. The wager, which also has a field bet for all other horses, closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

NEW YORK - It is a matter of record that the only time Ghostzapper was tested during his 2004 Horse of the Year campaign was by Saint Liam in the Woodward. And make no mistake, Ghostzapper, perhaps the best horse to set foot on an American track in many, many years, was thoroughly tested. Saint Liam dogged him every step of the way, and while he carried Ghostzapper out through the stretch, it must be noted that Saint Liam could not be ridden properly because he was getting out.

PHOENIX - The racing was great. There were some huge payoffs that no doubt left some people delirious with glee. Heavy favorites were beaten, and a heavily hyped horse lived up to his billing. Both tracks caught beautiful weather - the sun was shining.

But it didn't shine on everyone. There were at least six horses on the Sunshine Millions card who were significantly troubled by either traffic, pace, or circumstance, and they bear watching next time out.

NEW YORK - The Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap is the highest-graded and richest event in the nation Saturday, and it heads a card at Gulfstream that includes five other graded stakes worth an additional $650,000.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It is customary after any super-sized payoff for bettors to ask themselves a familiar question: "Could I have had it?"

Though the honest answer usually is no, hindsight is a shrewd ally for horseplayers who want to believe otherwise. With a lucky break here or a different selection there, things might have turned out as well as they did for one fortunate California horseplayer last Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Basketball coaches regularly acknowledge the importance of depth, particularly early in a season. Teams that can go 10 deep or more with quality players can practice all out in five-on-five scrimmages for their first games, unlike teams with fewer top-flight athletes. This leaves them better prepared.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - If you're still trying to make heads or tails of what was going on last Saturday in the Sunshine Millions, where the average mutuel was $45.20 at Santa Anita and $44 at Gulfstream Park, join the club.

NEW YORK - Now that the Sunshine Millions has been run three times, it is a little easier to put this event in proper context. Despite boasting total purses of $3.6 million, the Sunshine Millions is a lot closer to the Claiming Crown than it is to what it takes as its model, the Breeders' Cup.

PHOENIX - Azeri and Sightseek are gone, off to make little Azeris and Sightseeks. While it's sad for those of us who like to see superstars, it's good news for those in the division previously relegated to the sidelines to take center stage and make a name for themselves.

LEXINGTON, KY. - Handicappers who pay attention to track bias frequently find more similarities in the sprint and route bias trends on the main track than they do in sprint and route trends on the turf. A check of the turf races run at Fair Grounds from Jan. 21-27 provides a good example of how divergent the winning pace profiles can be at different distances on the grass.