ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine’s decision last year to move the Woodbine Oaks back one week to be run on the same card as the Plate Trial provided an interesting and immediate comparison, since both 1 1/8-mile races have produced most of the primary players for the Queen’s Plate in recent years.

Roger Attfield, the dean of stakes trainers locally, has never had a Woodbine Oaks winner repeat in the Queen’s Plate but he has made liberal use of the Plate Trial as a stepping-stone to Queen’s Plate success.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Al Stall Jr. well knows about the disparity in talent among equine brothers and sisters.

“Like the old saying goes, ‘Mrs. Dempsey had nine boys, but only one Jack,’ ” Stall said. “That’s why we’re pleasantly surprised that this filly is turning out as good as she is.”

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If trainer Todd Pletcher has any concern regarding Hilda’s Passion entering Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park, it’s the amount of weight the multiple stakes-winning filly has to concede to her six competitors.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dancing Raven rallied strongly under leading rider Luis Contreras to capture the $125,000 Ballade Stakes on Wednesday night at Woodbine.

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Amazombie's stretch run in the Los Angeles Handicap from multiple replay angles.

Amazombie, who finished first in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap on Monday but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference in the stretch, is likely to start in the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap at seven furlongs on July 2, trainer Bill Spawr said Wednesday.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Naseeb will try to pick up where she left off in the $50,000 allowance feature for filly and mare turf sprinters on Friday at Monmouth Park.

With an 11-race card starting at 12:50 p.m. Eastern, Monmouth shifts into its Friday through Sunday schedule until Labor Day.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – What you see is what you get with two sharp, honest geldings in two good allowance races Friday night at Hollywood Park – Galleta Monstruo in race 5 and Smokey Lonesome in race 7.

Galleta Monstruo wheels back six days after a big win while stretching out to 7 1/2 furlongs in a first-level allowance on the main track; Smokey Lonesome runs 1 1/16 miles on turf in a three-other-than allowance, the same level at which he missed by a neck last out.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though Tizway earned a virtual all-expenses-paid trip to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by virtue of his victory in Monday’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, his connections are inclined to aim a little higher.

Trainer James Bond said Wednesday that he would like to get Tizway to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, run at 1 1/4 miles on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs. Toward that end, Bond is aiming Tizway to the $750,000 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 6 and the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Oct. 1.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Five months into the year, the older male division in California lacks a leader, an issue that could be sorted to some extent after Saturday’s $150,000 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Thirtyfirststreet might be headed down a new career path after winning his turf debut Monday in the $200,000 Lone Star Derby. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the horse, who flew back to his Southern California base Tuesday, is being considered for a start in next month’s Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby.

“I’ve got to huddle up with the boys – it’s a great group of guys that own the horse – and see where our next journey will be,” O’Neill said. “I think they’re talking about Colonial Downs.”