OCEANPORT, N.J. – The German-bred Destiny’s Child had shipping issues on the way to her U.S. debut Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Boiling Springs Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Monmouth Park.

She spiked a temperature on arrival last weekend at the quarantine station in Newburgh, N.Y.

“She had a temperature of 102 or 103,” said Barry Irwin, head of the Team Valor International ownership group. “It’s the first horse we’ve shipped since the early ’90s that arrived with a temperature like that.”

The $134,957 Mountain Top at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday is an equal opportunity futurity. The field of 10 qualifiers for the five-furlong race for New Mexico-breds includes three capable fillies, Lakehouse Fun, Marthas Princess, and Backseat Roll.

Among the top colts and geldings in the race are Kiss My Hennessy, winner of the $120,000 Copper Top Futurity at Sunland Park in April; Indication N M, a winner of 3 of 4 starts; and Roll D’ Nile, who romped by five lengths in his June 8 trial for the Mountain Top.

ELMONT, N.Y. – They are clearly the two best horses in the field. They have similar running styles, and they will be lined up right next to each other in the starting gate.

So, from start to finish it figures to be quite a duel when Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can and Acorn winner Contested square off against each other in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Richie’slilcowgirl set the cell phones to ringing after running off the television screen in her career debut on a Friday afternoon in suburban Chicago. Richard Ravin ultimately agreed to sell her to one of her suitors, Ron Winchell, for a private sum, and now the Florida-bred filly will turn up Saturday in a graded stakes, the Debutante at Churchill Downs, in her second start.

Gone in a Flash showed a new dimension when he sat behind Tiny Giant in his win in a $40,000 optional claiming race June 9. His ability to rate should come in handy when he runs in the $50,000 Journal Handicap at Northlands Park Saturday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew nine horses, and there is an abundance of speed in the field including a very sharp Minutesandtouches who has won both of his races at Northlands this year. Also in the field is Salt Flat Speed who won the last two renewals of the Journal.

Races are not won on Beyer Speed Figures alone, but the number Desert Ransom earned in his last start makes him look imposing Saturday in the $50,000 Minstrel at Louisiana Downs. He enters the race off a six-length maiden win for which he was assigned a Beyer Figure of 86. The number is tied for second-highest for a 2-year-old so far this year.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Minnesota-bred 3 year olds will take center stage on Saturday with the Frances Genter Stakes for fillies and the Victor S. Myers Stakes for colts and geldings.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Stormy Canuck figures to get a perfect trip from just off what should be a lively and contested pace in a $35,000 optional claiming race Saturday that will serve as the feature at Hastings Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up goes as race seven on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

The good news for eight of the nine 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday’s $50,000-added California Wine Stakes is that the race will be run on the dirt at the Alameda County Fair rather than on paper.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The days of surprise wins from Willa B Awesome are over.

When she starts in Saturday’s $150,000 Hollywood Oaks at Betfair Hollywood Park, Willa B Awesome may be favored. The days of her winning stakes at double-digit prices, such as the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 13-1 in January or the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 10-1 in March, are over.

When she won the Melair Stakes against California-breds here in late April, Willa B Awesome was even-money and won by a nose.[bc_video_id:255207:]