AUBURN, Wash. – Long before he helped build Emerald Downs and took up residence as track president, Ron Crockett got his kicks as a horseplayer. He like the old-fashioned win bet because it was the shortest and most logical path to profits. Exotics? Crockett wasn’t a fan, and truth be told, he still isn’t. But Crockett answers to a clientele with an endless appetite for new wagers, and those patrons were hungry for the pick five.

AUBURN, Wash. – Rossi Reserve couldn’t keep pace with stakes horses in her last start but looks promising Friday in the feature race at Emerald Downs. Dropping into a $12,500 claimer after finishing fifth in the Seattle Handicap, Rossi Reserve charts as a strong betting favorite in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies. First post time is 6 p.m. Pacific and the feature is the seventh race on an eight-race card.

Get in Da House could be just one left-hand turn from a perfect record.

Claimed for a modest $10,000 in March at Fair Grounds by trainer Wes Hawley for himself and partner Bob Orth, Get in Da House ran his record to three wins from four starts after winning last Saturday’s Ragin Cajun Stakes at Evangeline Downs. The lone blemish on the 3-year-old Grand Appointment colt’s r è sum é came in his first start for his new connections – an entry-level allowance for Louisiana-breds at Louisiana Downs.

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Having the fastest qualifier in the filly Fire Moon Lady for the $1,126,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity at Los Alamitos on June 26 does not satisfy trainer Jaime Gomez.

At the end of 12 trials last Sunday, Gomez was looking toward the final with Fire Moon Lady but wished that he demanded more from his 2-year-old Quarter Horses in recent weeks.

“I’m in the final, but I should have two or three in the final,” he said.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Tim Hills sends out one of the newest members of the stable when Soda Pop Kid makes his 41st career start Friday at Monmouth Park.

The 6-year-old gelding was claimed last time out on May 28 for $32,000 from trainer Bruce Levine. He is back in for the same tag in a $52,000, second-level optional claimer, the feature event of the 11-race card.

Soda Pop Kid is an honest sort who is always in the mix. He is 10-11-6 with earnings of $386,630, more than double the bankroll of any of his six rivals in the six-furlong race.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Sense of Humor looks like the one to catch in a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Friday’s feature at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card that starts at 7 p.m. Pacific.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Distance racing on the turf always has been an aesthetic success here at Woodbine.

Now, Woodbine’s racing department will be looking to give both its horseplayers and horsemen a chance to enjoy turf routes in an additional light, with a new marathon starter allowance series.

Steve Lym, racing secretary and a director of racing for the Woodbine Entertainment Group, gives credit to his assistant, Sheryl McSwain, for the concept.

Trainer Dino Condilenios will have a strong one-two punch with Almost Time and Crew Leader in the $75,000 Lieutenant Governors on July 1.

Almost Time is a proven stakes winner with more than $300,000 in earnings. Crew Leader has won three times and has never won a race longer than 6 1/2 furlongs. Crew Leader has won both of his races this year, and he looked particularly sharp in his win over Prince Intent in a $50,000 optional race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs is trying to keep it real – and keep it a novelty, too. The night-racing concept that has become such a phenomenon in the last couple of years comes unchained again Friday, the second of four such spring programs in a carefully calculated move not to give beer-swilling twentysomethings too much of a good thing.

No Hesitation will try to get back on track when he runs in a $40,000 optional claiming race at Northlands Park on Friday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew nine horses, but most of the attention will be zeroed in on No Hesitation, the 2010 horse of the year in Alberta who has gone winless in three starts since he won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby last August.