ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Luis Contreras’s rise to the top of the jockey standings this spring, a mere two years since he began riding at Woodbine, has been remarkable. Contreras has yet to land a major Canadian stakes, but the native of Mexico has an excellent chance to do so Sunday aboard Inglorious in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks.

The 56th running of the Oaks heads a solid 11-race card which also includes the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes – an important prep for the June 26 Queen’s Plate – and the $100,000 Alywow Stakes, a turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

MIAMI - Representatives of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association met with the vice president and general manager of racing at Calder Race Course, John Marshall, for several hours on Thursday afternoon trying to resolve their differences regarding several issues, most notably revenues from money bet via advance deposit wagering accounts on live racing at Calder.

Lou Lou Larue will likely be favored when a field of eight older fillies and mares hook up in the $15,000 Bluegrass Stakes at six furlongs Saturday at Lincoln Race Course.

On Saturday night, Delta Downs will host two qualifying stakes for the Challenge Championships program for Quarter Horses this October at Los Alamitos.

Texasindependancegal, who has won 3 of 4 starts, set the fastest qualifying time for Saturday night’s $49,320 Juvenile Challenge.
In the $43,830 Derby Challenge, the Grade 1-placed Zoomarco might be tough to handle if he recaptures his best form.
 

Snug is sort of the Sham of the older Louisiana-bred ranks. He would arguably be his division’s leader were it not for Star Guitar, just as many believed Sham would have been the top 3-year-old back in 1973 had he not been part of the same crop as Secretariat.

Snug, 6, played runner-up to Star Guitar in the two richest Louisiana-bred stakes on the calendar last winter, the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds in December, and the $200,000 Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs in February.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Look out for Out Post in the $65,000 Fort Monmouth Stakes on Saturday. She could be sitting on a strong rebound effort in the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.

The 5-year-old Out Post will be making her second start of the season following a disappointing return.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – How is it that Chris Block, one of the best-known trainers at Arlington, and a trainer whose Chicago starters always seem to take betting action, can be producing a positive return on investment in so many areas?

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jockeys Joel Rosario and Mike Smith will ride in New York for Belmont Stakes weekend and then travel to England for the Royal Ascot meeting beginning June 14, they said Thursday.

Daring Reality was by far the longest shot on the board at 23-1 when she rallied to win the one-mile Wanda overnight stakes at Belmont Park in early May. She won’t be anywhere near that price, and might even go favored, against just four rivals in Saturday’s $75,000 Go for Wand Stakes at Delaware Park.

The Go for Wand, scheduled for a mile and 70 yards on the main track, is the local prep for the Grade 2, $500,000 Delaware Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile race, on July 9.

AUBURN, Wash. -- Kids Kooler, one of the leading 2-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs last summer, is scheduled to make her 2011 debut Saturday in the featured eighth race, a first-level optional $25,000 claimer. The 10-race card begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.