OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The connections of Cluster of Stars are acting like the shy, quiet type this week, electing to let their filly do the talking on race day.

By winning her first four starts, Cluster of Stars has made it plain and clear that she is extremely talented. On Saturday, the 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Greeley’s Galaxy seeks her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct.

The Distaff, carded at six furlongs, is the final graded event of the winter/spring meet at Aqueduct, which concludes April 21.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Julien Leparoux moved to Southern California last fall to begin riding there on a permanent basis, he did so with a tiny asterisk, permitting himself to return east whenever a turf filly named Centre Court was in the entries.

“She’s a special filly,” said Leparoux. “They wanted to keep me on her even when I’m on the West Coast. I will ride her anytime, for sure.”

OLDSMAR Fla. – Saintly Love, winner of his last two outings, both over the Tampa Bay Downs turf course, and Will Run for Beer, who is also going after his third straight turf win locally, top a strong and well-matched field of 12 optional allowance turf routers slated to start in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile grass feature at Tampa Bay Downs.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Over the last two years Hastings saw gains in both attendance and handle, and management is hoping the trend continues when the 2013 season gets under way Saturday. It might be hard to top the early numbers from 2012, though.

It was a perfect storm in 2012, with unseasonable dry weather, a first-round loss by the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the implausible run by local jockey Mario Gutierrez aboard I’ll Have Another.

Summer of Fun towers over her eight rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Calder Oaks, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Windsurfer will likely end up in a graded stakes sooner than later, but rather than rush him into one as they did last year, his connections opted for the more conservative approach and found a cozy spot in Friday's $69,000 second-level allowance feature at Aqueduct.

Windsurfer returned from a nine-month layoff to win a first-level allowance race by 7 3/4 lengths on Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park. There were graded opportunities such as the Skip Away at Gulfstream or the Excelsior at Aqueduct, but WinStar Farm and trainer Todd Pletcher exercised restraint.

Call Me Bubba may be a maiden but he still merits strong consideration as the favorite when a field of eight Nebraska-bred colts and geldings meet at six furlongs in the $25,000 Fonner Park Special Stakes on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by LaVerne Ballhagen, Call Me Bubba has made 5 of his 7 starts against stakes company and has only been off the board once since making his career debut last summer in the Lincoln Futurity, where he finished a late-running fifth going 4 1/2 furlongs.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Canadian Thoroughbred racing season begins Saturday, and for the first time in recent memory, Hastings will get the ball rolling.

The eight-race card will be the first of 69 days scheduled for the 2013 meet. Post time for the first of eight races is 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

The biggest day of the meet is Sept. 8, when the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby will headline six stakes that include three $100,000 races – the British Columbia Oaks, Jack Diamond Futurity, and Sadie Diamond Futurity.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Woodbine Entertainment Group is lowering its takeout on win wagers to 14.95 percent, the lowest in North America, beginning with the opening of the Thoroughbred meeting on April 20.

“We have to continue to take care of the loyal horse-playing customer, and this is a great way to do it,” Greg Martin, director of wagering operations, said in a press release.

“The win bet is our most popular wager, and reducing that takeout by 2 percent will financially benefit most horseplayers, from the sophisticated fan to the novice.”

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Track officials at Fonner Park on Thursday morning made the decision to cancel Friday's card after a storm left the racing surface, as well as the city, covered in a layer of ice.

Freezing rain and sleet began falling Tuesday afternoon and continued well into Wednesday, leaving more than an inch of ice covering the track. Temperatures Thursday were forecast to reach only the mid-30's with overcast conditions.