DEL MAR, Calif. – Judging from the nature of their conversation outside Barn E on the Del Mar backstretch on Friday morning, it would be hard to imagine that jockeys Rafael Bejarano and Joel Rosario are dead-locked at the top of the jockey standing with 24 wins each.

Laughing and carrying on in both English and Spanish, they swapped stories about events on and off the track after climbing off their final workouts of the morning – Rosario on a maiden for trainer Carla Gaines, Bejarano on Tres Borrachos, his hope for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 28.

AUBURN, Wash. – On paper, it’s a mismatch. A Hall of Fame trainer with scores of stakes victories on racing’s most competitive circuits versus a Northwest journeyman who went 20 long years without a single stakes win. But the 16th Emerald Distaff won’t be decided on paper Sunday on the Longacres Mile undercard, and trainers Jerry Hollendorfer and Margo Lloyd won’t literally be trading punches.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Frostad and owner Sam-Son Farm, who were in the spotlight at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Thursday evening, had been hoping to make a big splash on Sunday’s card.

Windward Islands had been headed for the Grade 2, $250,000 Sky Classic, Forest Uproar for the $100,000 Belle Geste, and Magic Broomstick for the $89,400 allowance prep for the Canadian Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Perhaps relishing the rare role of underdog in a graded stakes at Saratoga, trainer Todd Pletcher offered this assessment of Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes in which he will send out Bellamy Star against heavy favorite Winter Memories.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Sunday’s $25,000 HBPA Sprint Stakes at Canterbury Park features three contenders who finished within a neck of each other on opening weekend and who have faced each other several times since. The six-furlong HBPA Sprint is for horses who have not won a stakes and has attracted a field of 10.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Just when it looked like Joey P.’s best days were behind him, the New Jersey-bred gelding showed there was still spring in those 9-year-old legs.

Joey P. bounced back from a pair of disappointing efforts with a solid second in a second-level allowance against open company, and now heads into the $65,000 Colts Neck Handicap, the six furlong state=bred feature on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

AUBURN, Wash. – The prevailing plotline for the Grade 3 Longacres Mile – can anybody beat Noosa Beach? – was muddled Wednesday when the race favorite drew the 11 post position and leading challenger Awesome Gem drew the 12. Quite literally, the top two contenders will be on the outside looking in when they break from the gate Sunday at Emerald Downs in the Northwest’s marquee race.

Buff Bradley had been expecting a lull after he put Brass Hat out to pasture a few months ago. But much to his relief, there has been no such letdown.

Bradley might well have found a new stable star last weekend when he sent out Groupie Doll to a three-length triumph in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes, the annual highlight at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.

“I told everybody when ‘Brass’ left, ‘He’d better pass the baton to another horse,’ ” said Bradley, 47. “Sure enough, it may’ve happened already. It’s been quite a pleasant surprise.”

FORT ERIE, Ontario – Ross Armata, based at Woodbine, continues to lead the trainer standings here at Fort Erie with the very able assistance of sub-trainer Ravendre “By” Raghunath.

The current standings have Armata with 16 wins, one ahead of Layne Giliforte and two in front of Martin Drexler.

“I give full credit to Raghunath.” said Armata. “He he has done an excellent job with the runners we have sent him and I never worry about the Fort’s side of the operation with By in charge.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Weather permitting, Ruler On Ice will have his final workout for the Travers Stakes on Saturday morning at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Kelly Breen said the Belmont Stakes winner will likely head out to the track around 7:30 a.m. with regular rider Jose Valdivia Jr. aboard.

The only major hitch could be the condition of the track. There was moisture in the surface Friday morning following overnight rain and more showers were forecast for later Friday afternoon. A wet track Saturday morning could postpone the work by one day.