While daily average handle declined 1.8 percent at Emerald Downs during its recently completed 81-day meeting, track president Ron Crockett characterized the meeting as a success. Betting easily exceeded his preseason forecast, he said, and total purse distribution increased from the previous year.

The Emerald Downs meeting ran from April 13 through Sept. 23.

“I forecast handle to be down about 5 percent, and we were down 1.8, so I would say, even though we were down, I was pleasantly surprised,” Crockett said. “I thought the horse shortage would hurt us more than it did.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. - It was an unforgettable weekend for jockey John McKee. On Friday, he and his wife, Shelly, had their first child, a boy named Max. On Saturday, McKee was thrown hard to the Keeneland Polytrack when his mount in the fourth race, Save the World, broke down.

On Sunday morning, with X-rays having proven negative for what initially was believed to be a broken hand, McKee was aboard Groupie Doll at Churchill when the star filly had another workout toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Pat Byrne feels like he might be sitting on a pat hand with Take Charge Indy for the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on Saturday.

“We’re good to go,” Byrne said.

Take Charge Indy, winner of the Florida Derby in the spring, will be making his first start since he finished 19th of 20 in the May 5 Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old colt has had five recorded workouts since returning from minor ankle surgery, the latest coming Oct. 17 at Churchill Downs. Byrne said he “thought about maybe blowing him out a little this week” before deciding against it.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen, whose runners dominated the Breeders' Cup work tab at Santa Anita on Sunday, were back for more on Monday morning, with such big names as Contested, Fed Biz, and Unbridled's Note putting in their next-to-last works on a fast main track for upcoming Breeders' Cup races.

Contested, who is heading to the Filly and Mare Sprint, sped five furlongs in 59 seconds, the second-fastest time of 50 at the distance on Monday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Media attention, such as it is around these parts, was focused on Chantal Sutherland’s unexpected retirement following Sunday’s running of the $126,200 Bunty Lawless Stakes.

But trainer Mike DePaulo, who trains Pender Harbour, was happy to cede the spotlight and take the money after his hard-knocking 4-year-old gelding captured the one-mile turf race by an emphatic 2 1/2 lengths under regular rider Luis Contreras.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’s not too often that a horse eligible for a third-level condition has two stakes wins to his credit. Derby Kitten is one of those rare breeds, having won a maiden-claiming race, the Coolmore Lexington Stakes, and the Ontario Derby while losing his other 18 starts.

Now comes an opportunity for Derby Kitten, a 4-year-old Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred, to do something he’s never done – win an allowance race. Derby Kitten is one of six entered in the nominal Wednesday feature at Keeneland, a $56,000 Polytrack race at 1 1/16 miles.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There are several fairly promising 2-year-olds in Wednesday’s opening race at Woodbine, and Gunderman should be favored in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special, which is worth $67,100.

Gunderman lagged well back early before closing belatedly for second when he debuted over five furlongs May 25 at Churchill Downs. He didn’t start again until Aug. 4, when he came up empty after a troubled break in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Ever since Royal Delta’s devastating 9 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational here Sept. 29, her connections have been focused on defending her title in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita.

On Monday, owner Benjamin Leon and trainer Bill Mott gave themselves the option to change their mind.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Corey Nakatani celebrated his 42nd birthday in style on Sunday at Santa Anita by guiding favored Comma to the Top to a front-running victory in the $66,000 Big Bear Handicap, an overnight for older horses.

Comma to the Top ($4.80) just lasted to win by a half-length over Tres Borrachos, with Jaycito a neck farther back in third in the field of five. Shaun Washington and Riveting Reason were far back.

Comma to the Top completed one mile on the fast main track in 1:35.98 following splits of 23.48 seconds, 46.53, and 1:10.31.

LEXINGTON, Ky.  – The 5-year-old mare Upperline went out a winner in what was most likely the final start of her career after wearing down the up-and-comer Ciao Bella in deep stretch of the 1 1/2-mile Dowager Stakes on turf on a sun-splashed Sunday at Keeneland.