Engel has been white hot

Trainer Roger Engel is having a meet to remember at Will Rogers Downs, where he had won 12 races from 21 starts through Tuesday to sit atop the standings at the Claremore, Okla., track. Engel, whose 57 percent win rate is topped only by his 80 percent in-the-money stat, went 2 for 2 locally last Sunday, and also had a double on March 17.

Engel has 16-horse stable based at Will Rogers and said the horses came into the meet fresh, having had some time off following the close of the Remington Park meet last November. He also said he has a balanced mix of horses in the barn. Later this month, Engel plans to split his stable, sending a division to Prairie Meadows. He will also continue racing at Will Rogers, which runs through May 28.

* Will Rogers has handled $1,938,162 on its live races since the meet opened Feb. 24, up 56 percent from the $1,239,589 that the track handled on its races during the same period in 2006.

* Alex Birzer leads the rider standings with 26 wins from 85 starts.