Etc. . . .

Jockey Wendell Hilburn, who has been mounting a comeback the last two weeks, won his first race since 1998 on Thursday night at Remington Park with Here Comes Gotch ($6). Hilburn, 38, gave up riding four years ago after he suffered multiple injuries. . . . Luvah Girl, winner of the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday, will join trainer Jenine Sahadi in California. Team Valor purchased Luvah Girl, a British-bred 2-year-old Alzao filly, following her narrow loss in the listed Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. . . . Veteran racing official John Ferrara Jr. will be the racing association steward for the 2003 meet at Oaklawn Park. Ferrara served as assistant racing secretary at Oaklawn from 1995 to 1997 and since 1998 John has been a steward at Texas racetracks. . . . The Texas Thoroughbred Association's annual online stallion season auction has opened at www.texasthoroughbred.com, and will run till Nov. 1. Proceeds benefit the organization's political action committee.