Salt Flat Speed will attempt to extend his Northlands Park winning streak to five when he tackles a solid group of older horses in the $50,000 Journal Handicap Saturday. The six-furlong Journal attracted six horses, but Salt Flat Speed is clearly the one to beat.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Senor Rojo should appreciate the chance to stretch out for the first time this year when he runs in a $50,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at Hastings Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile feature attracted a quality field of six horses that includes four Grade 3 winners.

There are some bargain buys among the six 2-year-olds trying to win Saturday’s $50,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Mighty Monsoon cost only $7,000 at the March Ocala Breeders Sales Co. auction. Compass Rock sold for $6,000 and Baby Black for $3,200 at Keeneland last September.

And then there’s the aptly named Sold Short, who sold for only $400 – no, there’s not a missing zero – after failing to meet his reserve at last fall’s Northern California sale in Pleasanton.

Stakes action returns to Evangeline Downs on Friday night as an evenly matched field of 11 Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies goes in the Acadiana Stakes. The seven-furlong race carries a $50,000 purse.

There is nothing like a little change of scenery to shake up one’s outlook on things. Just ask jockey Quincy Hamilton and his agent, Kevin Johnson.

ELMONT, N.Y. – For those in the sport that lament the lack of a star or the fact that horses are retired prematurely, perhaps it’s time to get reacquainted with Gio Ponti, the most accomplished horse in training.

A winner of 11 of 24 starts, including six Grade 1 stakes, and three Eclipse Awards, the 6-year-old Gio Ponti makes his North American seasonal debut in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park. The Manhattan is one of five graded events on the undercard of the 13-race Belmont Stakes program that begins at 11:35 a.m. and ends close to 8 p.m.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Trainer C.R. Trout has been debating which is the best path to get Shotgun Gulch to this fall’s Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters, and at one point had seriously considered a stakes at Arlington Park. But now, he’s changed gears and is going Hollywood.

ELMONT, N.Y. – In the span of five weeks, owner Mike Repole has gone from sought after to afterthought.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – With trepidation, trainer Art Sherman will start Haimish Hy in Saturday’s $250,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park.

“I don’t think we have the right scenario,” Sherman said.

Sherman is worried that Acclamation, who will go favored, will have an easy lead in the Grade 1 race over 1 1/4 miles on turf and prove impossible to catch, especially for a closer such as Haimish Hy.

AUBURN, Wash. -- No Flies On Doodle, 0 for the past 12 months, will try to get back on the winning track Friday in the feature race at Emerald Downs. She headlines a field of five fillies and mares in a first-level optional $25,000 claimer at one mile. It’s the sixth race on an eight-race card beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific.