DEL MAR, Calif. – It was 20 years ago this summer that Del Mar put on its first $1 million race, the Pacific Classic, an event, next to opening day, that has become the biggest day of the season here. Marty Jones remembers that race well. Just 19 at the time, Jones had a ringside seat as Best Pal, trained by his father, Gary, came storming down the stretch to win it.

“That place was just crazy that day,” Jones remembered the other day. “It was the old grandstand, and it was just packed. It had a Derby-like feel.”

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – The $238,250 Golden State Derby at Los Alamitos on Sunday is the third major stakes final in the career of the 3-year-old gelding Filthy Fast. This time the pressure is on.

The Grade 1 Golden State Derby is the first time that Filthy Fast has gone into a top race as a heavy favorite.

Filthy Fast set the fastest qualifying time in the 400-yard trials on Aug. 14, winning the third and final division in 19.42 seconds as the 9-10 favorite. He will probably be that short of a price against seven rivals on Sunday evening.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The remarkable speed that The Factor showed last winter will be an asset when he returns from a four-month layoff in Sunday’s $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.

“There’s no rate in him,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He’s one of those horses that takes them as far as he can.”

It has been 20 years since an apprentice topped the rider standings at Ellis Park, and although Roberto Morales seems to stand only an outside chance of winning more races than the likes of Calvin Borel and Jon Court, the 21-year-old Puerto Rican still likes his spot.

“Just to be doing this good, I am happy,” Morales said through his agent, Julio Espinoza.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ian Black has been through a rough couple of weeks with injuries leading to the retirement of Rahy’s Attorney and to an extended leave of absence for Fifty Proof.

On Sunday, the Black barn will be looking for some solace when Stormy Lord runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Play the King.

The Play the King, a seven-furlong turf race, is the major local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sept. 18.

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Three-year-old Nebraska-breds get their last shot at stakes competition for the year with the $10,000 divisions of the Columbus Breeders’ Special on tap for Sunday evening at the Columbus Races. The fillies division drew a field of five and the colts and geldings division features seven runners. Both races are 6 1/2 furlongs.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Sid Attard will try to win the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes for the fourth year in a row Sunday when he sends out Signature Red and Jungle Wave in the seven-furlong turf event. The $200,000 Play the King is the prep for next month’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, and it should yield several starters for that $1 million fixture.

It is tough to separate the seven horses running in a $10,000 claiming race that will serve as Sunday’s feature at Northlands Park.

Dixie Mountain is making his first start at Northlands in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. He was a gem of consistency at Prairie Meadows where he compiled a 2-5-1 record from 8 races this year. In his latest start on Aug. 5, he won and was claimed for $6,250 by trainer Greg Tracy, who was acting on behalf of Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth Park has canceled the Sunday card due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Both live racing and morning training are washed out. The scheduled feature, the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher for fillies and mares has been postponed until Sept. 3. The race, which had attracted six runners, will be redrawn.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - There will be a pick-six carryover of $192,141 into Friday's Saratoga card after Thursday's pick six was essentially canceled following the third leg because the final three legs of the sequence were moved from the turf to the dirt after wagering had closed.