Trainer Phil Serpe expected Weekend Hideaway to run well in Wednesday’s David Stakes for 2-year-old New York-breds. What he didn’t expect was to see the son of Speightstown run six furlongs in 1:09 and change and dominate the race by more than a half-dozen lengths. But that’s the way this summer has gone for Serpe, who has sent out seven winners from just 27 starters, equaling his total for 2011 with several days still left in the meet.

Swift Warrior, winless since taking the Rushaway Stakes in March 2011, returned to the winner’s circle Wednesday, taking the $100,000 Win Stakes by two lengths.

Swift Warrior, a son of First Samurai, hadn’t run since finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Handicap at Fair Grounds on April 1. That was his third race in two months after missing 11 months due to a condylar fracture training toward the Blue Grass in 2011.

“He’s been one of the barn favorites for a little while now,” trainer John Terranova said.

Archwarrior lived up to all the advance billing when he rallied to a very professional 3 1/4-length victory over fellow first-time starter Malachite in Thursday’s third race. Archwarrior, a son of Arch owned by Alto Racing Stable, opened at 1-9 in the wagering, never got higher than 1-4, and paid $2.50 after completing six furlongs in 1:10.07 with jockey John Velazquez aboard.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – They were two of the most impressive debut-winning juvenile fillies of the meet. They are both homebreds and named after family members.

In Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway at Saratoga, Teen Pauline and Dreaming of Julia are entered to face each other. It remains to be seen if that actually happens. Teen Pauline is cross-entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park.

If they both run, the Stonestreet Stable entry of Teen Pauline and Dreaming of Julia figures to be a short-priced favorite in the Spinaway, run at seven furlongs.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Mister Marti Gras has lost all five of his starts this year but still appears to be coming into Saturday’s Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park with a strong chance to win the race for the second year in a row.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Shug McGaughey scratched Data Link out of the Fourstardave Handicap three weeks ago because he knew the horse had a disdain for soft turf.

When it was suggested that scratching may have been prudent anyway given how well Wise Dan ran in winning the Fourstardave, McGaughey bristled.

“I think if it had been hard turf we’d been very competitive whether Wise Dan was in there or whoever was in there,” McGaughey said.

[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]

DEL MAR, Calif. – John Scott, the 5-year-old gelding, is being given an easier finish to his summer campaign than a plan that owner John Harris considered in August.

Last month, Harris and trainer Carla Gaines debated whether to start John Scott in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 26.

They opted to pass in favor of Saturday’s $85,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes over a mile.

[Complete coverage of racing at Del Mar: News, PPs, and video]

AUBURN, Wash. – An eclectic group of six will compete Saturday in the featured eighth race at Emerald Downs, a one-mile $17,500 claimer for fillies and mares that have never won three times.

One of the six has a stakes victory at a mile, while two others will be trying two turns for the first time. The favorite could be Mysincircus, jumping up sharply in class following her five-length victory in a conditioned $7,500 claimer in early August. The race is wide open, with only the likely pacesetter, La Distanza, expected to be a longshot in the wagering.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Get Serious is not just a horse for the course at Monmouth Park, having won five graded stakes there. He also is a horse for a particular kind of course: the firmer the better for the 8-year-old gelding.

If the weather forecast holds, Get Serious could get his preferred footing Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes.

The 10-race holiday weekend card also includes the $60,000 Miss Woodford Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters.

[bc_video_id:261535:]SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After finishing eighth and last as the 6-5 favorite in the Vanderbilt earlier in the meet with Shackleford, one would think trainer Dale Romans’s confidence might be shaken just a bit when he wheels his versatile multiple Grade 1 winner back in the $500,000 Forego. But the way things have been going recently for Romans in important stakes, it’s easy to see why he still firmly believes he’s got the horse to beat in the Grade 1 dash that shares top billing Saturday at Saratoga with the Grade 1 Woodward.