Louisiana Downs closed out its 84-date meet on Sunday with a marginal increase in handle on its live races. The track reported an average $1,279,233 a day was bet on its races from all sources, up a quarter of a percent from the 84-date meet in 2010.

Of that total, an average $1,156,273 a day was handled offtrack, up .22 percent, and an average $122,960 a day ontrack, up .37 percent. Officials were pleased with the numbers in light of recent industry trends and the economy.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Roger Attfield opted to try Smart Sting on the Polytrack for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Selene Stakes. Any questions regarding surface wound up being incidental for Smart Sting, who was a convincing 3 1/2-length winner of the 1 1/16-mile Selene.

Smart Sting, a homebred who was foaled in Kentucky and races for Stronach Stable, had shown plenty of promise in her first six starts on turf but appeared to raise her game to a new level in the Selene by earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Gypsy Ring bypassed the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in favor of much easier pickings Wednesday night in the $125,000 Overskate Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired runners.

Gypsy Ring started in three Ontario-sired Polytrack stakes earlier in his career, finishing a close second on each occasion. In June of last year, he earned a career-high 100 Beyer Speed Figure when he was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Shepperton.

Shackleford and Caleb’s Posse are among the 3-year-olds confirmed to race Saturday in the Indiana Derby, while trainer Bob Baffert said Monday he was still trying to decide whether to send Coil cross-country from California for the Grade 2, $500,000 race at Hoosier Park in suburban Indianapolis.

Trainer Dale Romans said he was happy with the way Shackleford, winner of the 2011 Preakness, breezed five furlongs in 59.80 seconds over a sloppy track at his Churchill Downs base Saturday morning.

“That’s what told me we need to go up there,” Romans said.

Golden Cup couldn’t get it done as the heavy favorite when he stretched out to a middle distance for the first time in the one-mile, $50,000 Alberta Premier’s Futurity on Sept. 17. Nonetheless, he looks like the one to beat with the move back to a sprint when he runs in an allowance race for 2-year-olds at Northlands Park on Wednesday. There are no restrictions attached to the conditions of the 6 1/2-furlong race that drew seven horses and goes as race 5 on the 10-race card.

POMONA, Calif. – The lone front-runner in the $75,000 Ralph M. Hinds Handicap at Fairplex Park stole the signature race of the 13-day Los Angeles County Fair meet that ended Sunday.

Atticus Jack is trained by Brian Koriner, who gave simple instructions to jockey Agapito Delgadillo.

“Go to the lead and at the half-mile pole, just send,” Koriner said. “Open up, and see what happens.”

Go Unbridled took advantage of a change of surface and a patient ride from Ramon Dominguez to win Sunday’s $100,000 John Hettinger Stakes at Belmont Park.

Originally carded for the turf, the Hettinger was run on the dirt after New York Racing Association officials deemed the turf too soft to race over, though morning workouts were conducted on it.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Roger Attfield and jockey Eurico Da Silva combined to sweep both stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, most notably the Grade 3, $255,500 Selene for 3-year-old fillies with Smart Sting.

Drill, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7, worked seven furlongs in 1:23.20 on Sunday, preparing for his first start around two turns in Saturday’s $250,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita.

Drill actually worked six furlongs in 1:11.20, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

“He did it the right way,” Baffert said. “He did it pretty effortlessly.”

Banned, winner of three graded stakes this year, underwent successful surgery Saturday to stabilize sesamoids that were injured during a turf workout at Santa Anita on Thursday, trainer Tom Proctor said.

Proctor emphasized Sunday that Banned faces a lengthy recovery.

“He’s doing really well,” he said. “We’re still very guarded about his prognosis. Everything is good so far. We’ve got to give it more time.”

Banned is recovering at Proctor’s Santa Anita stable.