OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Eminent Tale and Tap Attack won races approximately 30 minutes apart on the Feb. 18 Aqueduct card. While Eminent Tale won a better race in a faster time, Tap Attack may be worth backing when the two meet in Sunday’s $60,000 Sweet Envoy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Based on a solid 2-year-old campaign in Europe, the shipper Singapore Lilly will be among the favorites Sunday when she makes her U.S. debut in the $75,000 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.

Seven entered the mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, including Grade 3 La Habra winner Cambina, 5-for-9 Cathy’s Crunches, and lightly raced European invader Up In Time. If the China Doll was more than just a prep race for the Grade 2 Providencia on April 9, Singapore Lilly would be easy to endorse.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Furthest Land gave trainer Mike Maker some indication he might be returning to his Breeders’ Cup-winning form when he opened his 2011 campaign with a game optional claiming and allowance win on the turf here earlier in the meet. Maker will be looking for a further clue the hero of the 2009 Dirt Mile is heading in the right direction when he starts among the favorites in Sunday’s fifth race, a one-mile allowance event that has attracted a stakes-caliber field.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The list of Oaklawn-based horses seeking to defend their home turf against potential shippers The Factor and Sway Away in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel is growing. Glint and Bluegrass Jam are headed that direction, and will be sharing a gate with locals Archarcharch, J P’s Gusto and Elite Alex, the first three finishers from last month’s Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest.

Zazu, the winner of the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in February and the runner-up in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on March 5, will make her next start in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6, trainer John Sadler said.

Sadler said he does not plan to start Zazu in the April preps for the Kentucky Oaks, such as the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park or the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

“We’ll wait for the Kentucky Oaks,” Sadler said. “I think she’ll like Churchill Downs, too, especially if it’s muddy.”

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Highlighting the Todd Pletcher stable’s assault on Aqueduct’s inner track this winter has been the fact it has won 13 stakes races with nine different horses. The barn figures to add to those totals in Sunday’s $60,000 Out Ruled Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

But handicappers will have to decide whether Pletcher will win the race with Buster’s Ready or R Holiday Mood, who comprise 40-percent of the field. The Out Ruled, run at a mile and 70 yards, shares billing with the $60,000 Sweet Envoy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old males.

Led by the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9, Hollywood Park will run seven Grade 1 races during its upcoming 54-day spring-summer meeting, which runs from April 21 to July 17.

The schedule of 49 stakes was released on Thursday, and includes a few changes from the 2010 meeting. The $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf, has been moved from Memorial Day to July 2 with a $50,000 purse increase. The $150,000 American Handicap, which was run on Fourth of July weekend in the past, will be run on May 28, at one mile on turf, a furlong shorter than past runnings.

Trainer Juan Arias has informed racing officials at Turfway Park that he intends to ship Decisive Moment from south Florida for the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes on March 26.

Decisive Moment is part of a growing roster of 3-year-olds under consideration for the 40th running of the Grade 3 Vinery Spiral, the annual showcase race at Turfway in Florence, Ky. A two-back winner of the ungraded Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs, Decisive Moment most recently was fifth in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Not all horses can race every three weeks or so. Elusive Jozi has had her races amply spaced, not by design, but out of necessity.

“She’s kind of hot-headed and takes a lot out of herself when she runs,” explained Ralph Nicks, who trains Elusive Jozi for breeder-owner David Garner. “It takes her a while to get back to where I’m satisfied that she’s ready again.”

Training went on as usual at Golden Gate Fields Friday morning, even as high waves from a tsunami caused by a strong earthquake in Japan struck the West Coast of the United States. The three major tracks in Southern California also were unaffected by the tsunami.

Although there were tsunami watches along the California coast, Golden Gate Fields is located on a protected area in San Francisco Bay. Track officials do not expect the tsunami to affect racetrack operations or schedules, said track spokesman Tom Ferrall.