Two Northern California invaders look like they have a class edge on the Northwest locals in the $35,000 Portland Meadows Mile on Monday. Eight 3-year-olds and up meet in the Mile, which is one of six Thoroughbred stakes on the Portland Meadows card.

When We Met, the 9-5 favorite, has been competitive against much better at Golden Gate Fields and on the California fair circuit. Deacon Speakin’, 3-1 on the morning line, showed signs of life in the claiming ranks in his last start after a string of mediocre efforts against stakes and allowance company.

A colt who was well-bet in his career debut at Saratoga and a pair of unraced fillies are among the intriguing possibilities in two hard-to-decipher rich stakes for 2-year-old New York-breds going six furlongs on the Labor Day holiday card at Finger Lakes.

AUBURN, Wash. – A pair of claiming races – a $10,000 mile for older horses and a $12,500 sprint for fillies and mares – will serve as co-feature races Monday at Emerald Downs. First post on the nine-race holiday card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

The $10,000 claimer, race 7, attracted seven runners, and it would be easy to make a winning argument for any of the seven. Who’s Your Next Ex is an experienced and consistent miler and could start as the favorite, though Zagreus, Tapadero, and Ontheshadyside will be popular in the wagering.

A suspensory injury that sent Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags into early retirement cost trainer Michael Matz his top 3-year-old earlier this summer. But Matz has a capable replacement on the cusp of stardom in Teeth of the Dog.

Teeth of the Dog, who joined the elite of this year’s crop of late-blossoming 3-year-olds with a courageous neck victory in the Grade 2 Dwyer, will look to take another step forward in Monday’s $350,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Arlington Park’s Labor Day feature calls for some serious handicapping work.

Twelve horses were entered in the 1 1/8-mile turf race with multiple allowance conditions and an $80,000 claiming option. The race has quality – whether it’s contested on turf, as scheduled, or rained onto Polytrack after weekend showers –and the bulk of its entrants appear evenly matched.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Already a winner in a one-mile turf race at Del Mar, Wishing Gate is well placed to win her first stakes in Monday’s $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf on the same surface and distance.

Trained by Tom Proctor for Glen Hill Farm, Wishing Gate is the only filly in the field with a win around two turns.

“I think that’s always an advantage,” said Aimee Dollase, Proctor’s assistant. “She liked it, and she’s won it. She should be tough.”

DEL MAR, Calif. – By just about all rights, City to City shouldn’t even be racing. She suffered a serious injury to her right front ankle during a workout here at Del Mar two years ago, and Jerry Hollendorfer, her trainer and co-owner, thought her career was over.

But surgery performed by Dr. Wayne McIlwraith and extensive rehabilitation done in Washington state at the Pegasus Training Center of co-owner Mark DeDomenico put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A photograph of Pender Harbour graces the cover of the catalog for the 2012 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale that will kick off with a selected session starting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Woodbine sales pavilion. Pender Harbour was a $17,000 CTHS yearling purchase who was Canada’s champion 3-year-old male last year and has earned more than $1.1 million, so it is appropriate that he will be on display in the flesh here in Monday’s $125,000 Elgin Stakes.

Back in May, trainer John Stinebaugh sent out Krash Cartel to win a Quarter Horse trial by an overwhelming 4 1/4 lengths. At the time, he said it was one of the most impressive races he had ever seen from a 2-year-old at Ruidoso Downs.

And then came Pj Chick in Black.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Two $50,000 sprint stakes will be featured at Hastings on Monday, and one of the six-furlong races has a heavy favorite, while the other is wide open.

Herbie D is a standout in the Derby Bar and Grill Express for 3-year-olds and up, which drew five horses and goes as the fourth race. In the Derby Bar and Grill Ladies Express, it is hard to separate the leading contenders among the seven fillies and mares entered.

Post time for the nine-race Labor Day card is 1:50 p.m. Pacific.