Will he repeat or regress?

MIAMI - Mr. Livingston looked like his old self last month winning the Carterista Handicap by four lengths at odds of 11-1. The question is whether that performance was an aberration or if Mr. Livingston, a multiple-stakes-winning 7-year-old, can repeat the effort as the likely favorite in Saturday's $40,000 Lord Juban Stakes at Calder.

Mr. Livingston had been winless for more than nine months and idle nearly four when he roared to his impressive victory in the Carterista. He had everything go his way that day, when he rallied off a very fast pace under a hedge-hugging ride from jockey Chris Morales.

Trained by Bill Kaplan for owners Teresa and David Palmer, Mr. Livingston has remained sharp since his last victory with a pair of works over the turf, including a bullet five-furlong breeze in 1:00.40 on May 31 in which he completed his final quarter mile in 23 seconds.

The Lord Juban will be decided at one mile on grass, which has been Mr. Livingston's best distance.

Marcos Word, who finished a troubled third in the Carterista, is back for another shot at Mr. Livingston. Marco's Word bobbled at the break, then had to check back approaching the far turn before rallying to be third in the Carterista. He then showed both his resiliency and versatility by returning one week later on the main track to win in a strong field of high-priced optional claiming horses that included the multiple graded stakes winner Dancing Guy.

Both Mr. Livingston and Marcos Word should have plenty of pace to run at with speedsters Last Stand, Gypsy Dot, and Summer Note in the lineup. An honest pace would also favor both Unbridels King, a recent allowance winner on grass, and Joey Blueeyes, who has not started since finishing sixth in Gulfstream Park's 12-furlong Pan American Handicap on March 20.

Office Queen nominees

Next Saturday's $100,000 Office Queen Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, drew 11 nominees, led by Special Report and Menifeeque.

Special Report posted game victories in each of her last two starts, the Lenta and Castlebrook stakes. She won the Lenta by a neck over Cute Connie and the Castlebrook by a nose over Alarkandadove. Both Cute Connie and Alarkandadove are also nominated to the Office Queen.

Menifeeque, who won two races here at 2, returns from Maryland where she finished fifth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan on May 14.