VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Once again Classic Alley Kat will be the one to run down when she goes for her second straight stakes win in the $50,000 Senate Appointee for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs at Hastings Saturday.

Trained by Elizabeth Stolzenberg, Classic Alley Kat has improved dramatically since she won a $5,000 maiden claiming race at Portland Meadows in 2009. Since then Classic Alley Kat has won eight races and she was never threatened when she won the Brighouse Belles by 5 3/4 lengths with Keveh Nicholls aboard April 23.

Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out how a race will shape up. But in the case of the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes, there seems little doubt about which horse is headed to the early lead: Joes Blazing Aaron.

“His way is just to get into the race,” trainer Mike Maker said. “We’re going to let him go and do that. He might be better if he puts a little space between himself and the field.”

Chick Lang wasn’t much of a gambler, but he did appreciate a well-matched horse race. It’s fitting, then, that there is no clear-cut favorite among the nine 3-year-olds entered to run Saturday in the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes (race 6), named for the late Pimlico general manager who died in March 2010.

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After futilely trying to beat the likes of Smiling Tiger and Amazombie in recent races at Santa Anita, Ventana gets a far easier spot. Trainer Bob Baffert has shipped him in to Pimlico, where he will accept his top weight package of 119 pounds in the Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap on Saturday.

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BALTIMORE – The 2010 Preakness card produced two of the top contenders for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic nearly six months later: Lookin At Lucky, who won the Preakness, and Blame, who won the William Donald Schaefer Handicap. As most everyone knows, Blame captured the BC Classic at Churchill Downs in an epic triumph over Zenyatta, with Lookin At Lucky finishing fourth.

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BALTIMORE – A little later than his connections had hoped, Paddy O’Prado, an Eclipse finalist as North America’s leading 3-year-old of 2010, makes his 4-year-old debut in a rather soft renewal of the Grade 2, $200,000 Dixie Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Pedaltothemedal was well regarded last year at 2, when sore shins cut short her campaign. She started twice, won a maiden race, and was not overhyped.

Fast forward to 2011, and trainer Art Sherman does not hide enthusiasm for Pedaltothemedal, who is likely to start favored Saturday in the Grade 3, seven-furlong Railbird Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park. What about the hype? Bring it.

“I haven’t been this excited about a horse in a long time,” Sherman said. “I think she’s the real McCoy.”

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BALTIMORE – The embarrassment of riches that is trainer Graham Motion’s stable will never be more on display than Saturday at Pimlico. Not only is he running the Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in the Preakness, but three hours earlier he brings defending Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account back to the races in the Grade 3, $100,000 Gallorette Handicap.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – The first Canterbury Park stakes races of the season are on tap Saturday with the $35,000 Lady Slipper Stakes for Minnesota-bred fillies and mares and the $35,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes for Minnesota-bred colts and geldings co-featured on a nine-race card. Both stakes will be run at six furlongs over the main track.