OCEANPORT, N.J. - Key Lory and Pyrus come into Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Red Bank Handicap, the first graded stakes of Monmouth Park's season, with three-race winning streaks on the turf.

Both horses have not lost a turf race in this country. Both achieved their greatest success in a Grade 3 race. And both have won each of their turf starts wire to wire. Something is going to have to give.

"I don't anticipate him being anywhere but on the lead," said trainer Elliott Walden of Pyrus. "He's a very nice horse and we're looking forward to running him in the Red Bank."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sometimes the Dogwood Stakes attracts the kind of field to match its Grade 3 rating.

But occasionally a genuine standout from the 3-year-old filly division finds her way into the Dogwood, a horse who, for one reason or another, is between starts in more prestigious events.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Quiet Resolve, Canada's Horse of the Year and grass champion in 2000, returns to Woodbine in Saturday's Grade 3 Connaught Cup, the first turf stakes of the meeting.

The 15-horse field also includes Dr. Kashnikow, who ships in from Maryland with solid credentials. The 68th running of the 1 1/16-mile Connaught is worth a record $178,500.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Like a Hero remains a candidate for the Belmont Stakes following his first stakes win in Thursday's $77,200 at Hollywood Park.

Scoring his third consecutive win, Like a Hero prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths over the maiden World Light, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.37. Trainer Beau Greely emphasized that a final decision on the Belmont Stakes will not be made until next week.

"He won and that's what I wanted to see," Greely said. "He's by Pleasant Colony and he should get 1 1/2 miles. I wasn't looking farther than today.

AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer Bill Tollett has done a marvelous job of placing Maid in the Moon throughout her career, finding one spot after another in which she was the clear speed of her field. The result has been eight wins from just 17 starts for Maid in the Moon, including wire-to-wire scores in her last three outings.

It remains to be seen whether Tollett's luck will hold through Saturday's Emerald Downs feature, in which Maid in the Moon will take on five other fillies and mares, all eligible to be claimed for $32,000, at 6 1/2 furlongs.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Blowin in the Wind earned an average Beyer Speed Figure and beat a weak field when he debuted in a straight maiden race for

3-year-olds and up on May 1. But the way he won indicates he could be a lot better than just average.

CALGARY, Alberta - Trainer Sid Gray, searching for a spot to run Viva Ruckus, finally gets his chance in Saturday's fifth race, an optional claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Gray had nominated Viva Ruckus to last Monday's Victoria Day Stakes at Assiniboia Downs but was unable to make shipping arrangements.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Despite working a solid seven furlongs Thursday morning at Belmont Park, E Dubai will skip Monday's $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap, his connections confirmed Thursday.

E Dubai, a 4-year-old son of Mr. Prospector who won the Dwyer here last summer, has not run since finishing second as the 1-2 favorite in last September's Grade 1 Super Derby, and he missed a couple of workouts earlier this spring. Moreover, the Metropolitan Handicap is coming up a brutally tough race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Perhaps the most annoying aspect of this age of simulcasting is how the odds change after betting has closed. Horseplayers frequently complain about how they are shortchanged after their horse has left the gate at something like 2-1, only to cross the wire in front at 6-5.

The makeup of the ownership group that is in the process of purchasing Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has changed, but there is still a good chance the group could take over the track before the meet starts June 28.

The project is still headed by Jim Davis, a Shreveport attorney, but Winston Capital Group of Dallas is no longer a partner, said Ray Tromba, general manager of the track. The entire ownership will now be made up of investors based in northern Louisiana.