The stakes schedule announced Thursday for the Fair Grounds 2012-2013 meet includes fewer races but many higher purses than in 2011-2012, the chief enhancement being a $100,000 upgrade to the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, which will be worth a record $400,000 in 2013.

Trainer Michael Ferraro looks ready to continue his family’s long run of success in the Ontario County Stakes at Finger Lakes when he saddles the uncoupled entry of Sundae On Sunday and Fench Wine in the six-furlong sprint for New York-bred 3-year-olds.

Ferraro’s son, M. Anthony Ferraro, won the Ontario County five times, most recently with Turnpike Token the last time the race was contested in 2010.

ALTOONA, Iowa -- Wednesday afternoon’s arrival of 2011 champion 2-year-old colt Hansen marked the first time a former Eclipse Award winner had stepped foot on the grounds here at Prairie Meadows since Caressing in June 2002. Along with a dozen quality runners pointed to other Iowa Festival of Racing stakes, Hansen flew in to contest Saturday night’s Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Iowa Derby and, in the process, get his stellar career back on track.

Two horses who have raced exclusively on synthetic surfaces and turf, along with another whose only two races this season produced good victories on synthetic surfaces, will attempt to transfer their form to dirt around two turns of Charles Town’s bullring in Saturday night’s Red Legend Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The $400,000 Red Legend at seven furlongs highlights the West Virginia track’s fifth annual Sprint Festival that features six stakes on an 11-race card with a special starting time of 6 p.m. Eastern.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Ansede should appreciate the easier company and the move back to a sprint when she runs in a first-level $50,000 optional claiming race at Hastings Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies drew eight horses and headlines a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Double Shuffle hasn’t won for a while but he may have found the right spot to get back on track when he runs in a $30,000 claiming race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Northlands Park. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up goes as race 8 and Double Shuffle is clearly the class of the six-horse field.

Frontside lulled them to sleep to lead from start to finish in the $106,500 Girls, Incorporated of Shelby County on Wednesday evening at Indiana Downs.

Trained by Ed Caramori and ridden by Marlon St. Julien, Frontside was sent to the front and stayed just off the rail through fractions of 23.93 seconds, 47.82 and 1.11.93. St. Julien went to work in upper stretch, and Frontside held off a late-charging Hard Seven and Hooh Why to win by a half-length over Hard Seven.

Lillie Abbie, who was an 11-length winner on Lone Star Park’s main track in her last start June 15, will make a rare appearance on turf in Friday night’s eighth race, a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at seven and a half furlongs. Lillie Abbie will be moving back into open company after winning a first-level allowance against Texas-breds with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

“She’s run well on the grass before,” said Karl Broberg, who trains Lillie Abbie for Country Gold Equine. “If she gets a good trip, I think she should run real well in this spot.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Incredicat, who is coming off a second-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial, breezed four furlongs in 48.20 seconds under exercise rider Tyler Gaskin here Tuesday morning in preparation for Monday's six-furlong Achievement Stakes.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs officials announced Wednesday evening that they will attempt to salvage the final three days of the spring meet in the face of an oppressive heat wave by switching to a first post of 6:30 p.m. Eastern for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.Churchill canceled a nine-race Thursday card in girding for the heat.

Daytime temperatures through the weekend were forecast to surge past 100 degrees, making conditions unbearable for horses and humans for much of the day. The Friday program had been scheduled to start at 2:45; Saturday at 6; and Sunday at 12:45.