There doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut favorite in a $22,000 claiming race that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses, including the 7-year-old mare Salsa Express, who will be competing with males for the first time in her career.

BALTIMORE – Rudy Rodriguez has been very methodical in the way he has campaigned Agave Kiss to this point. He began her career in races for New York-breds, stayed on the inner dirt at Aqueduct during the winter, and ventured outside of New York for the first time last month, when Agave Kiss won a stakes race at Parx Racing.

She is a perfect 5 for 5, all at six furlongs. One more intermediate step, and then it will be time to aim really high.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When Southern Parkway stylishly won a maiden race in his third race last fall at Keeneland, he looked like a horse with the potential to win a stakes race. However, six months later no stakes wins have followed, neither has even a single allowance victory – but at least that could change if the horse runs to expectations in Friday’s 10th race at Churchill Downs, a $55,300, first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hard Not to Like, who is one of the leading candidates for the June 3 Woodbine Oaks, could bypass that $500,000 race and head straight to the June 24 Queen’s Plate.

Owned and bred by Garland Williamson, Hard Not to Like finished second when making her 3-year-old bow and Polytrack debut in Keeneland’s Ashland on April 22 and was trying dirt for the first time when a troubled sixth in the May 4 Kentucky Oaks.

“She ran really hard in the Ashland,” said trainer Gail Cox. “When she was back in Kentucky for the Oaks, it was 85 degrees every day.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bear’s Ruckus, who had an eventful but successful debut, will go 1 1/16 miles in his second career start Friday at Woodbine, in an Ontario-sired allowance for 3-year-old nonwinners of two.

Bear’s Ruckus was dismissed at 9-1 as part of a Bear Stable entry when he debuted in a contentious Ontario-sired maiden special April 27. After getting bumped at the break, the large gelding fought for the lead off the rail on the backstretch in that 6 1/2-furlong sprint, but then lost ground while blowing the turn.

Gypsy Robin led every step of the way to win the $100,000 Inaugural at Presque Isle Downs on opening day Tuesday evening.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Gypsy Robin had a two-length lead at the first call of the six-furlong event. Jockey Julio Garcia shook the reins at the 3-year-old filly in the stretch and she drew off to win by four lengths in ridden-out fashion. The even-money favorite Brilliant Katie was second, a half-length in front of longshot Mali in third.

Field for Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 19, 2012. Watch the race live and bet with DRF Bets. Click horse names to access contender profiles.

Preakness Stakes (G1), Post Time: 6:05 ET Saturday

Purse: $1,000,000; 1 3/16 miles

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - After missing a scheduled start because of concern over soundness last month, Acclamation, the champion older male of 2011, may finally make his 2012 debut in the $250,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap on June 9.

Acclamation was entered for the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap on April 27, but was scratched after trainer Don Warren expressed concern about the 6-year-old’s ankle. Subsequent tests revealed no damage and Acclamation resumed training last weekend.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Fans hungering for the return of Stay Thirsty to the races will get their fill on Thursday when last year’s Travers winner makes his 4-year-old debut in the $90,000 Vanlandingham Stakes at Belmont Park.

The Vanlandingham, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the main track, also drew Trickmeister, who suffered his first loss in six career starts when he was sixth in the Grade 1 Donn at Gulfstream in February.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Zazu was taken out of training at a dreadful time last fall, weeks before the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs.

The filly, then 3, had won 2 of her 3 preceding starts, including the Grade 1 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita, and appeared to be a top contender for the Ladies’ Classic when a shoulder problem surfaced.

“It was a major disappointment,” trainer John Sadler said.