INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Flashy Ways had a bad afternoon when she finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

She started from post 13 in a field of 14, raced wide on both turns, and was steadied in the stretch when racing within a few lengths of the lead. The incident cost her any chance at a top three finish – she was beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Flotilla.

Her next assignment is Saturday’s $100,000 Miesque Stakes over a mile on turf for 2-year-olds fillies at Betfair Hollywood Park. This job will be slightly easier.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the hair-splitting critiques of horses on the Kentucky Derby trail start coming to light next spring, surely one of the days being subjected to stringent evaluation will be Nov. 24.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – David Carroll intended to run Silver Strike in an allowance on the Stars of Tomorrow card Saturday at Churchill Downs, but hold that thought. With a standout filly named Sign finished for the year, Carroll opted instead for the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes, reasoning that the race might be coming up a little lighter than normal.

Whether or not it was the right move will be determined Saturday, when Silver Strike takes on eight other 2-year-old fillies in the 69th running of the $150,000 Golden Rod at 1 1/16 miles.

Forte Dei Marmi figures to start as a solid favorite Saturday in the Grade 2, $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder, but he still has obstacles to overcome in the 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

B y David Grening

OZONE PARK, N.Y. − Remember that amazing Saratoga meet trainer Kiaran McLaughlin enjoyed, winning five graded stakes, including Grade 1 staples such as the Alabama, Coaching Club American Oaks, Travers, and Forego?

Well, seasons change as do fortunes, and that sensational summer has given way to an awful autumn for McLaughlin’s stable. Since sweeping the early daily double at Belmont on Sept. 23, McLaughlin has one win from his last 49 starters entering Saturday’s card at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Five years ago, trainer Bill Mott won the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes with a daughter of Empire Maker stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in her third career start coming off a maiden win around one turn.

Saturday, Emollient, a daughter of Empire Maker, will try to duplicate what Mushka did in 2007 when she runs in the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for juvenile fillies at Aqueduct.

Emollient, a Juddmonte Farms homebred daughter of Empire Maker, won a seven-furlong maiden race by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont on Sept. 30.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It is, they say, a woman’s prerogative to change her mind. For a filly, the best she can do is change the mind of her trainer. Apparently, Groupie Doll did just that.

Trainer Buff Bradley was content to stop on Groupie Doll following her powerful performance winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. Groupie Doll had other ideas.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Court of the Realm, winner of the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes at one mile on the turf here last year, hasn’t had many chances to show his stuff in 2012 with just three starts to his credit.

But trainer Peter Berringer is hoping to end Court of the Realm’s campaign on a high note when he sends out the 5-year-old horse for Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Kennedy Road Stakes at six furlongs.

Graser could get an ideal pace setup Saturday in the $55,000 Zia Park Distaff, but she still has questions to answer in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares. The start will be her first on dirt, if she runs. She is cross-entered in an allowance Sunday at Zia.

Dale Bennett, a horse trainer, keeps his face set tight. Bennett grew up on the racetrack. His father, Gerald, still trains. After so many years, Bennett’s not a person to let emotions get wrapped around a horse. Yet on Nov. 16, as Bennett sat in his barn office at Hawthorne Race Course, tears crept into the corners of his eyes.