LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It's a challenge to handicap Ellis Park because horses come to this meet from all over the country. During the first two days of entries, horses were scheduled to race at Ellis Park after having last competed at River Downs, Arlington, Fairmount Park, Indiana Downs, Hoosier Park, Churchill Downs, Prairie Meadows, Manor Downs, and Saratoga.

BOSTON - Some Thoroughbreds find their way to the racetrack with one evil purpose in mind: to frustrate and torment the poor struggling handicapper. Or so it seems with certain horses. And, at least for me, there's no more exasperating perpetrator of this kind of torture than the talented but erratic 5-year-old gelding Balto Star.

NEW YORK - That's how you do it, Robby Albarado!

Albarado received a lot of criticism for his ride on Mineshaft when they lost a heartbreaker in last month's Stephen Foster Handicap, based on a needless, premature, wide move into a hot fraction. And the criticism was thoroughly deserved. But as anxious and impatient as Albarado seemed in the Foster, he was as patient and deliberate on Mineshaft in Saturday's Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park.

PHOENIX - Most of the attention paid to Sunday's Grade 2 Dwyer at Belmont has focused on who isn't running rather than who is. With the likes of Peace Rules, Midas Eyes, and Dynever taking a pass, the race may not have immediate national impact, but it's still an important race.

The 1 1/16-mile race marks the return of unbeaten Sky Mesa. It has been nine months since Sky Mesa ran, but all reports have been positive leading to his 3-year-old debut here. His trainer, John Ward, isn't the type to overmatch or ask too much of his classy absentee runners.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jockey Rafael Bejarano has been one of the best longshot jockeys at the Churchill Downs meet, and has continued to flourish in that category in recent days. Last Sunday, I noted that through June 25 he showed a hefty $2.60 ROI and an average win payoff of $27.13.

NEW YORK - Even in the face of a terrific field for the $500,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, which is being run for the 117th time, the main theme on Saturday is turf racing.

The headliner among three stakes at Hollywood Park is the $750,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. The track's stakes tripleheader also includes the $100,000 Royal Heroine Stakes on the grass.

PHILADELPHIA - As the second half of the year begins, let's review. It has taken only six months for Bobby Frankel and Jerry Bailey to clinch their 100th consecutive Eclipse Awards. Some might want to consider Barclay Tagg and Jose Santos. And that would be fine. Still, it appears Frankel and Bailey once again are going to have overwhelming numbers at year's end.

Frankel had won just 64 races through July 1. And almost half were graded stakes. His horses have already racked up $9.8 million in earnings. He is winning with a ridiculously high 33 percent of his starters.

LAS VEGAS - The Dwyer Stakes, which will be run this Sunday, has been a fixture for 3-year-olds since 1918, and has always attracted high-quality runners. In only its second running in 1919, Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, carrying top weight of 127 pounds, was upset by Purchase, who carried 118. And the following year, Man o' War defeated John P. Grier while spotting him 18 pounds

NEW YORK - There is a belief among some handicappers that most horses that win easily really didn't win as easily as it seemed. The thinking is that, even if they are not asked for their best by their jockeys, horses will pretty much run as hard as they usually do, unless, of course, they are taken under stout restraint. And, after many years of expecting horses to improve their speed figures off victories where it looked like they had something left, I came to the conclusion that rare indeed is the easy winner who really does win easily.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - According to the jockey standings, the traditional way of judging success at a race meet, Cornelio Velasquez and Pat Day have been the dominant jockeys at Churchill, with Robby Albarado, John McKee, Mark Guidry, Shane Sellers, and Calvin Borel occupying the next five slots. They deserve plenty of respect for their success. Their goal was to climb aboard as many low-odds contenders as possible, and to win as many races as they could with those well-chosen mounts.