Trainer Andrew Leggio Jr. can only hope his second experience in Saratoga goes as well as his first. In 2005, Leggio brought the Louisiana-bred mare Happy Ticket here to win the Grade 1 Ballerina by 5 1/2 lengths.

Leggio was back in Saratoga on Wednesday morning, where he tried to watch his Kentucky-bred 3-year-old filly St. John’s River work toward a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes here Aug. 20. With a plethora of horses working right after the break, Leggio said he had a hard time watching his filly breeze.

J C’s Pride, second to Overdriven in his debut, came back to win his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths Wednesday, setting a track record for five furlongs in the process. His time of 56.54 seconds eclipsed the previous mark of 56.71 set by Fabulous Force on Aug. 18, 1993.

Under Jose Lezcano, J C’s Pride broke on top and set fractions of 21.87 seconds for the quarter and 44.64 for the half. Lezcano stole a peek at the infield board, where he could see no one was gaining on him and he had the colt geared down at the finish.

Ice Box, winless since rallying to a nose decision in the 2010 Florida Derby, will return from a nine-month vacation to top a field of six in Friday’s third race, a third-level optional claiming test to be decided at 1 1/8 miles over the main track. Ice Box underwent knee surgery shortly after finishing fifth last October in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup and then had his return further delayed by a series of what trainer Nick Zito described as “minor interruptions.”

The hotshot 2-year-old Creative Cause will be among the favorites when he makes his second start in the Best Pal. Trainer Mike Harrington said Creative Cause is on target for the 6 1/2-furlong Best Pal, pending a second Del Mar workout this weekend.

Creative Cause won his July 16 debut by 4 3/4 lengths, earning a 98 Beyer that was the highest by a 2-year-old at the Hollywood meet.
“I knew he could run, but he’s bred to be a two-turn horse,” Harrington said. “I didn’t expect that going five-eighths.”

The Factor is back on the Del Mar work tab and aiming for a late-summer comeback, possibly the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Aug. 27 at Saratoga.

“It’s a possibility, I’m trying to [make that race],” trainer Bob Baffert said.

The Factor worked a half-mile Tuesday in 49 seconds.

“He went nice, he just cruised,” Baffert said.

The Factor set a Santa Anita six-furlong record (1:06.98) in his second start on Dec. 26, followed by Grade 2 wins in the San Vicente at Santa Anita and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

The combined Summit/Thistledown meet, which ran from April  23 through July 25, concluded with jockey Federico Mata capturing his first Thisteldown riding title after going neck and neck throughout the meet with Yamil Rosario. Mata won two races on the final day, Monday, to come out on top with 51 wins from 231 mounts, Rosario finished second with 49 wins from 142 mounts. Luis Gonzalez was third with 41 wins from 161 mounts.

The 2011 live racing season in Nebraska enters the home stretch Friday night as the final stop on the regular circuit, Agricultural Park at Columbus, opens for a 23-day stand that will run through Sept. 11.

There will be two additional days of racing in the state, but final plans for the one-day meet at Horsemen’s Atokad Downs in South Sioux City and the Quarter Horse day at Fair Play Park in Hastings have yet to be announced.

AUBURN, Wash. – Hollywood Harbor is the fastest horse at Emerald Downs not named Noosa Beach, but that doesn’t make him an automatic starter when the Grade 3 Longacres Mile is renewed for the 76th time on Aug. 21. Trainer Chris Stenslie said the Mile is being considered for Hollywood Harbor, but getting him to the race in peak condition could be a challenge.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The time was slow, the track was dark, and Amazombie was well under the radar in an early-morning workout Wednesday at Del Mar. He may be under-noticed again Sunday as third horse in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a six-furlong stakes billed as a two-horse race between Smiling Tiger and Euroears.

It was before 5 a.m. when Amazombie worked a half-mile in 52.80 seconds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A field of 10 older fillies and mares was drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $500,000 Diana, at least one of whom will achieve a career milestone by posting her first Grade 1 win.