ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kara’s Orientation’s success in Sunday’s Sky Classic was a big win for the little guys.

Claimed for $20,000 here in spring 2010, the 4-year-old colt Kara’s Orientation was the first stakes winner for his trainer, Steven Chircop, and the win had added significance due to its Grade 2 status and $250,000 purse.

Kara’s Orientation’s front-running score over 1 1/4 miles of good turf also provided a never-to-be-forgotten highlight reel for his owner, Max Berketa, and the Pinnacle Stable partnership headed by Chircop’s uncle, Joe Chircop.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Stronach Stable entry of Flyaway Bird and Skylara should be scary-good in the seventh and final race on Wednesday night’s Woodbine card. The first-level allowance drew five other fillies and mares, who will clash over 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack.

Flyaway Bird made quite a splash when she debuted in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special July 22. She tracked a fast pace on the outside, before assuming command early in the stretch, and went on to prevail by two lengths, earning a solid 76 Beyer Speed Figure.

Hollywood Dreams will try and carry his speed around three turns for the first time when he runs in an optional $32,000 claiming race at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on the 10-race card.

Steel Blue ($5.60) was forced to duel for the lead the entire four laps of the 1 5/8 miles of the $15,990 C.J. Hindley Humboldt County Marathon, and re-rallied after being passed in the stretch by Baron’s Gold to claim victory in the 58th running of the race Sunday on the closing of the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale.

AUBURN, Wash. -- Awesome Gem won the 76^thLongacres Mile on Sunday at Emerald Downs, defeating local hero Noosa Beach in the Northwest’s Grade 3, $200,000 showcase. Dubbed “the ATM of West Point Thoroughbreds” by trainer Craig Dollase, Awesome Gem pocketed $110,000 to run his career earnings to nearly $2.7 million.

AUBURN, Wash. -- Hard Way Ten, a 14-1 outsider, raced to a hard-fought victory Sunday in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff at Emerald Downs, a race marred when defending champion Kimmyv broke down about 40 yards from the finish.

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Jockey Tyler Baze, who has been off his mounts at Del Mar since Friday, failed a breathalyzer test ordered by the track physician that day and, though named on mounts on Wednesday, will not be allowed to ride until meeting with the stewards Wednesday morning and being re-evaluated, steward Scott Chaney said Sunday afternoon.

Del Mar is dark Monday and Tuesday.

Chips All In remained undefeated in three starts on Sunday, when he won his first race on dirt in the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park. He shipped in from Southern California for the six-furlong feature that closed out the meet. Chips All In won by 1 1/2 lengths over Rio Cuchara. It was another head back in third to King of Swat.

DEL MAR, Calif. -- The Factor, one of the most exciting 3-year-old prospects from earlier this year, will return from a lengthy layoff and face older runners for the first time in the Grade 1, $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes next Sunday at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday.

The Factor has been working brilliantly at Del Mar in recent weeks. He had also been under consideration for the King's Bishop Stakes next Saturday at Saratoga, which is the race in which 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo will launch his comeback. Both the King's Bishop and Pat O'Brien are at seven furlongs.

DEL MAR, Calif. -- A new trainer, new jockey, and new racetrack proved a winning trifecta on Sunday at Del Mar for Tanda, who scored her first win in 15 months in the Grade 3, $147,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for older female sprinters.