ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Twenty-six horses tested positive for prednisone, a corticosteroid, during late spring and early summer in Chicago. All the positive tests revealed minute traces of a drug permitted to be used therapeutically but forbidden on race day, and trainers whose horses tested positive said they followed the same procedures for administering prednisone that they’ve used for years. The sheer number of rulings issued by Arlington Park stewards on Sept. 2, however, figures to draw attention.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The speedy Silent Serenity may have found a field that she can wire in Wednesday’s second race at Woodbine, a $62,500-$60,000 claimer over six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.

Silent Serenity crushed $32,000 maidens over five furlongs in her season opener April 13, when she was awarded a solid 77 Beyer Speed Figure. She was claimed that day by Trinity Racing Stable and trainer Clint Abraham, who sent her out for a third-place finish in a first-level allowance April 27.

POMONA, Calif. – Monument’s summer job for trainer John Sadler was team player. No glory, no complaints. Though outclassed in the morning, it did not matter to Monument.

“He was battle tested before his first race,” assistant trainer Larry Benavidez said. “He was working with Capo Bastone all summer.”

Thanks to workout assistance from Monument, Sadler-trained 2-year-old Capo Bastone won his debut in a maiden special weight, finished a promising fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, and remains a leading candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cityscape, Dance And Dance, and Worthadd checked in from Europe late Saturday night with an eye toward Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile.

Arriving on the same flight were Wigmore Hall, who will be seeking a repeat in Sunday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Northern Dancer; Barefoot Lady, a candidate for Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian; and Fearless Jacq, whose target is Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Natalma for 2-year-old fillies.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Anna Sophia hopes to pick up where she left off nearly 11 weeks ago while Madame Giry hopes to continue her streak of success running back on short rest when the two meet in Wednesday’s $80,000 Smart ’n Fancy Stakes at Belmont Park.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The big guns will be out in full force here Sunday with the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, Grade 1 Northern Dancer, Grade 2 Canadian, and listed Ontario Derby all on tap.

And the one trainer with bullets for all four stakes is Roger Attfield, with Hollinger set for the $1 million Woodbine Mile, Musketier and Forte dei Marmi for the $500,000 Northern Dancer, Smart Sting for the $300,000 Canadian, and Colleen’s Sailor for the $150,000 Ontario Derby.

David Cohen made something of an abrupt move this fall, leaving what had been his home circuit for the better part of the last three years – the New York racing circuit – almost as soon as he posted one of his biggest career victories in the Travers Stakes.

Cohen, 27, has hitched his proverbial wagon to Ken McPeek, trainer of Golden Ticket, the colt Cohen rode to a dead heat with Alpha in the Aug. 25 Travers at Saratoga. The men will team up repeatedly throughout the fall in Kentucky, including during the Kentucky Downs meet that began last weekend.

Marquis Downs, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, showed a 6.7 percent increase in daily average handle from all sources for its 30-day meeting that ended last Saturday.

This year’s daily average of $36,253 compared to $33,971 in 2011.

This year’s total of $1,087,612 was up from $951,201 in 2011 when the meeting spanned 28 days. Only six more races were run this year, however, with totals of 239 compared to 233.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Eternal Rule, who recorded the biggest win of his career in last Friday’s $250,400 Presque Isle Mile, was vanning out to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania on Monday after suffering a career-ending suspensory injury.

“That’s where they say they have the best chance to save him,” said Sid Attard, who trained the homebred 4-year-old gelding for Don Myers.

Eternal Rule returned to Ontario late Friday night and had been under the care of Dr. Darryl Bonder at the nearby Toronto Equine Centre.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Second City remained undefeated with an upset win in the Grade 3, $200,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sunday.

He paid $13.80 as the second choice in the 11-horse field of 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles.

Second City also showed a new dimension by coming from well off the pace to beat Devil in Disguise by 2 3/4 lengths. Devil in Disguise was part of a heavily favored three-horse Troy Taylor-trained and Glen Todd-owned entry that included Hoist who forced the pace and finished third and Taylors Deal who rallied to finish fourth.