AUBURN, Wash. – Howard Belvoir, seeking his first Emerald Downs training title, will send out four starters Friday, including two in the feature race, a $15,000 claimer for older horses at 6 1/2 furlongs. The eight-race card begins at 5 p.m. Pacific, an hour earlier than usual, to accommodate a fireworks show after the races.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The Lone Star Park meet for Quarter Horses that opens Friday night will be the first full meet under the ownership of Global Gaming, and the ingredients are in place for a strong season. The track has drawn a long list of prominent stables for the 26-night meet that will run through Nov. 12.

Lone Star also has a strong stakes schedule in place for the meet, led by the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity. The race is the richest in Texas, and it will anchor a closing night card that includes the Grade 1, $400,000 Texas Classic Derby.

ELMONT, N.Y. – When he began the year with a victory in the Lecomte Stakes in January at Fair Grounds, Wilkinson automatically became high on a lot of people’s list of Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

But if his last race is any indication, Wilkinson’s future appears to be on turf. After winning a third-level allowance race – albeit against only three rivals – last month at Saratoga, Wilkinson steps into stakes company in Friday’s $60,000 Summing at Belmont Park.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan underwent surgery Wednesday morning for a broken collarbone sustained in a one-horse spill aboard Formaggio in the Kentucky Cup Turf last Saturday at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.

Bridgmohan’s agent, Anthony Martin, said the 32-year-old jockey was having a plate and pin inserted in his left collarbone at Jewish Hospital in downtown Louisville.

Bridgmohan was up on his feet just seconds after Formaggio fell with about five furlongs remaining in the 1 1/2-mile race. No other horses or jockeys were involved.

Bay to Bay, who also is slated to see action this weekend at Woodbine, was nominated to both the Woodbine Mile and to Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares which is her preferred destination.

"It’s going to be a tough field,” said Lynch, who conditions the Florida-bred 4-year-old Bay to Bay for owner Rob Smithen. “But, I wouldn’t trade places with anybody.

“She’s got no excuses. She’s going into the race as good as she’s ever been. I’m really happy with the way she’s training, the way she’s working.”

Saturday’s card at Woodbine features a pair of one-mile turf races for 2-year-olds which are part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In challenge series.

Both the $250,000 Summer and the $200,000 Natalma, which is for 2-year-old fillies, offer Grade 3 status and attracted fields of eight and 13, respectively.

Last year, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out Pluck to win the Summer and More Than Real to run second in the Natalma and watched both come back to capture their respective turf events on the Friday Breeders’ Cup card at Churchill Downs.

The annual Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s mixed sale will take place in the Northlands Park EXPO Centre on Sunday. With supplements, there are 99 horses cataloged. The main focus will be on the 71 yearlings being offered.

Last year, there were 92 yearlings sold at an average price of $5,389. The main reason for the decline in numbers of horses being offered was a private sale held earlier this year by Esquirol Farms.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Father and son riding combinations, while uncommon, are not all that rare, especially in Louisiana which has produced so many jockeys through the years.

What is a bit unusual, is the magnitude of success Gerard Melancon and his son, Jansen, have had this summer while plying their trade at opposite ends of the state.

POMONA, Calif. – Does the path to the Breeders’ Cup run through Fairplex Park?

It might for Candrea, the 2-year-old filly expected to be heavily favored Friday in the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes at the Los Angeles County Fair.

Bob Baffert trains Candrea, whose auspicious debut was a July 7 maiden race at Hollywood Park that she won by more than three lengths while geared down, earning a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

Notoriously, the top older mare in Alberta, will be looking for a third straight stakes success when she journeys to Assiniboia Downs for Friday’s $50,000 Matron.

The Matron, a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, has an interesting and competitive field of nine which also includes Alberta shipper Miss Victoriana, who is the defending champion, and Fleet Mama.

Notoriously, a 4-year-old who is conditioned by Rod Cone, has been lightly raced this year and comes in off victories in the 1 1/16-mile Madamoiselle and 1 1/16-mile City of Edmonton at Northlands Park.