DEL MAR, Calif. - This is a starting five that even the Lakers might envy. Trainer Bob Baffert has five runners in Wednesday's $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, and they very well may be the first five betting choices in the Grade 2 race that highlights closing day of the 43-day summer season.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Black Ruby, the popular racing mule, can add Del Mar to the list of tracks she has conquered.

In an exhibition match race held after the program on Sunday, Black Ruby easily beat Taz, her arch-rival from the northern California fair circuit.

Ridden by Jim Burns, Black Ruby was always in front. She had a half-length lead on Taz at the eighth pole and won by two lengths in 23.35 seconds despite drifting out during the stretch of the 400-yard race.

DEL MAR, Calif. - It has taken longer than expected, but Zanapour has developed into a stakes-caliber turf miler this year for trainer Julio Canani.

Two wins in allowance races at Del Mar earlier this summer make Zanapour the likely favorite in Wednesday's $75,000 Live the Dream Handicap. The program also includes the $70,000 California Equine Retirement Foundation Handicap for fillies and mares over six furlongs. Both races are part of the undercard on a closing day program highlighted by the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity.

Delta Downs, a small track in Vinton, La., that opened a slots casino in February, hopes to lure some of the nation's top 2-year-olds to town Dec. 21 for a newly created $500,000 stakes that has yet to be named.

The one-mile race will be the richest the track has ever staged for Thoroughbreds.

The only two 2-year-old races "that are going to be worth the same or more are the Champagne and the Breeders' Cup," said Chris Warren, director of racing for Delta.

Mario Pino does most of his riding in Maryland these days. But he returned to his Delaware roots to celebrate his 41st birthday and a career milestone on Sunday.

Pino is a native of Wilmington, just a few miles from Delaware Park, where he was the leading rider in 1979 and 1980. He became the 18th jockey to ride 5,000 winners by scoring twice on Delaware's Sunday program.

Dollar Bill is scheduled to be reunited with jockey Pat Day in the Kentucky Cup Classic, the centerpiece of the $950,000, five-race series that will be run Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Day was aboard Dollar Bill last year when the colt encountered numerous troubled trips leading into, and during, the 2001 Triple Crown. Day and trainer Dallas Stewart agreed thereafter that it would be best for all involved for the colt to get a new rider, but in seven subsequent races, Dollar Bill has won just once for owners Gary and Mary West.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The Bonapaw Road Show - which has taken the 6-year-old gelding this year from Des Moines to Dubai - will next play New York in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Handicap on Sept. 21 at Belmont Park.

Bonapaw, arguably the top sprinter in the Midwest, arrived here on Sept. 3, and on Monday morning he blazed five furlongs in 57.24 seconds over Belmont's main track, the fastest of 20 workouts at the distance by 3.40 seconds. With exercise rider Kevin Soodoo up, Bonapaw went his first three furlongs in 34.40 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:09.40.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - At an age when most horses are clinging to a racing career, 9-year-old Zarb's Magic has a firm grip on his. Saturday at Arlington, in the 63rd start of an eight-year career, Zarb's Magic tied a 32-year-old track record, racing five furlongs in 57.61 seconds.

Then, just as quickly, it was over. Zarb's Magic not only is fast and game, he's smart and completely accustomed racing. When he hits the wire, that's that. Strides past the finish line, Zarb's Magic has shut down the engines and his gallop-out barely carries him onto the far turn.

EDMONTON, Alberta - The $100,000 Speed to Spare is the second-richest race of the year at Northlands Park, and with little else left on the stakes schedule for Sixthirtyjoe - an Alberta horse of the year candidate - it wasn't surprising that owner Dea Davies entered him in the Speed to Spare on Saturday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Parco Ducale, a hefty $80,000 claim three starts ago, will try to win the first allowance condition in Wednesday's Woodbine headliner, at a mile on the grass.

A field of 11 was drawn for the $69,900 race. Hanlan is entered for the main track only.

Parco Ducale displayed some promise last year at 2, winning his maiden race on the grass and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 81. He was put away for the year after closing for second in an allowance dash in August.