The Pearl Necklace Stakes at Pimlico on June 2 shined a spotlight on one of Maryland's most remarkable horse-owning couples.

John and Virginia Friedman captured the attention of the racing world early in their career as owners, when a filly they bought at a Timonium yearling auction for $1,800 - Our Cheri Amour - won the 1971 Coaching Club American Oaks.

Since then, the Friedmans (John is 74, Virginia 73) have developed a steady succession of hard-hitting runners, including four stakes winners, in their modest mom-and-pop operation based at Bowie Training Center.

Six homebred fillies from some of the top Ontario stables are matched up against five auction purchases in Sunday's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the 52nd edition of the premier race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies.

The Oaks is as much a breeders' race as it is an owners' event, and just once in the last 10 editions - with Kimchi, last year - was the winner plucked out of the sales ring. All but one of the remainder were bred by their owners.

From the last 20 runnings of the Canadian-bred classic, only five were bought at a sale.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - One indication that Lucky J. H. is nearing a comeback after a yearlong layoff occurred on Thursday after a half-mile workout at Hollywood Park.

The 5-year-old horse was feeling so good that he tried to bite his workmate after breezing a half-mile in 48.60 seconds, trainer Carla Gaines said.

Gaines and owner-breeder John Harris are hoping that Lucky J. H.'s enthusiasm continues when he returns to racing later this summer.

When Time's Mistress won the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18, she became the second graded winner in recent months for William B. Wilmot and Joan M. Taylor.

The husband and wife veterinarians are fixtures in New York Thoroughbred breeding, and own and operate the 200-acre Stepwise Farm in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

They prefer a small operation geared to individual attention and quality, keeping just six mares on the farm.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The deals Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's Darley organization struck to acquire Street Sense and Hard Spun's breeding rights vividly illustrate Darley's determination to be a dominant stallion operation not only in the United States, but around the world. That was underscored again on Wednesday, when Darley announced it also has purchased the stud rights to 2007 Epsom Derby winner Authorized.

The first Saturday in June was a break-out one for horses foaled in the Sunshine State. Among the major events was the victory of Delightful Kiss in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby. And Buzzards Bay returned to top form when he won the Grade 2 Californian.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - If either Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago or Kentucky Oaks winner Rags to Riches wins the Belmont Stakes, the winner's dam would reach a unique milestone as the producer of two winners of a Triple Crown race.

A son of Pleasant Tap, Tiago is a half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo (by Holy Bull), and the grand-looking A.P. Indy filly Rags to Riches is a half-sister to last year's Belmont winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold).

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The boisterous lady watching the sixth race in the turf club restaurant at Hollywood Park on Wednesday had a good excuse for cutting loose.

Judith Carmel admits she was too proud to stay quiet while watching Suit Yourself top a field of California-bred 2-year-old maidens over five furlongs.

"I was the only one yelling in the whole turf club," she said.

Full Mandate, who stands at Hartley/DeRenzo Walmac South, and Trust N Luck, standing at the Vinery South, became the first of the 2007 Florida freshman stallions to sire a stakes winner. Both sired the winner of a stakes race at Hollywood Park last Sunday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Mr. Greeley filly Finsceal Beo became only the second filly in history to win both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas with a game victory in the Irish classic last weekend. Sandwiched in between those successes was a narrow loss by a head in the French 1000.

Racing in three classics in three weeks may be a record in itself, but the hardy constitution and very high class of Finsceal Beo indicate that she is a sterling example of the toughness and excellence most admired in the Thoroughbred.