ELMONT, N.Y. – A pair of six-furlong sprints for New York-bred fillies highlight Thursday’s card, one scheduled for turf and the other for the main track. Trainer John Morrison has contenders in both races: Lady On the Run breaks from the far outside in post 11 and will be among the favorites in race 8, a $44,000 optional claimer with second-level conditions on dirt; and Queens Or Better, a maiden graduate at Saratoga two starts back, shoots for her first-level allowance condition against 10 other turf-meant runners in race 2, a $42,000 dash scheduled for the inner course.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Rashnaa, who earned black type in two recent stakes, will get some class relief in Thursday’s third race at Woodbine, a third-level allowance with an $80,000 claiming option.

Rashnaa, a nicely bred Tapit mare trained by Bob Tiller, was a productive upper claimer in 2010, but she has taken her game to another level this year at age 5. The stretch-runner won her season opener with a $62,500 tag over seven furlongs, the distance of Thursday’s feature.

Kentucky Downs reported a sharp downturn in all-sources handle during the four-day meet that ended Monday while also posting a minor increase in ontrack handle.

The turf-only track near Franklin, Ky., reported gross all-sources handle of $3,361,839, down more than 19 percent from the comparable four dates last year. Track president Corey Johnsen termed the results “disappointing” while also noting that California outlets did not take the Kentucky Downs signal as they have in previous years.

POMONA, Calif. – Fairplex Park is excessively kind to favorites. The past five years, favorites won 40 percent of Thoroughbred races on the five-eighth mile track that hosts the Los Angeles County Fair race meet.

The trend is splendid for bettors that enjoy cashing tickets regardless of odds. Value-oriented bettors, meanwhile, become frustrated when favorites win as often as week two (Sept. 14-18) of the meet. Thoroughbred favorites won at a 45 percent clip, lifting the overall rate for the meet to 36 percent. The national average is about 34 percent.

Bill and Connie Apostelos must think this is an easy game. The first horse bought by the neophyte owners was in a partnership on a $35,000 claim more than two years ago. That horse is Baryshnikov, who has developed into a remarkably consistent performer at age 5 and will be one of the favorites Saturday when Turfway Park brings back its fall showcase as the WinStar Kentucky Cup.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – No local horses emerged from last Sunday’s Woodbine Mile program as legitimate contenders for the Breeders’ Cup.

But, Woodbine’s first potential Breeders’ Cup representative stepped up to the plate here last Saturday when Northern Passion captured the Natalma Stakes for trainer Mark Casse.

The Natalma, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies, not only offered Grade 3 status and a purse of $200,000 but was part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In challenge series and earned Northern Passion a fees-paid berth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

MIAMI – The formula is tried and true. Capture the opening two legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes, skip the prep for the final leg, toss in a stamina-enhancing one-mile work during the six weeks between races, and then the complete a sweep of the series by winning the 1 1/16-mile finale on the Festival of the Sun card.

Jockey Julian Pimentel reached 1,000 wins for his career by scoring aboard  Pet Me Pet Me ($5.60) in Monday’s ninth race at Delaware Park.

Pimentel, 30, who rides primarily in Maryland, where he is the leading jockey at the current Laurel Park meet, was riding at Delaware because Laurel does not race on Mondays.

Coming off an authoritative allowance win at Saratoga, To Honor and Serve will return to stakes company in Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.

A field of nine was entered Monday for the Pennsylvania Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race restricted to 3-year-olds. Ruler On Ice, the Belmont Stakes winner, was installed as a lukewarm 5-2 morning-line favorite. But given his last performance - an 8 1/4-length allowance win at Saratoga - it wouldn’t be surprising if To Honor and Serve goes off the post-time favorite.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Theyskens’ Theory, second to Winter Memories in Saturday’s Grade 1 Garden City Stakes, will remain in the United States and continue her career under the tutelage of trainer Shug McGaughey.

Theyskens’ Theory is owned by Andrew Rosen, who has a few horses with McGaughey, including Arnell, a 4-year-old half-brother to Theysken’s Theory who is for $35,000 claiming on Friday.

McGaughey also has Fashion’s Flight, a 2-year-old filly who finished second as a 2-5 favorite in a maiden turf race on Sunday.