VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads was pleased with the way Majesticality came out of his upset win in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby last Sunday and is considering running him in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers Oct. 10.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Academicienne didn’t make much of an impression in her first two trips to Woodbine.

But Kiaran McLaughlin, who has been training Academicienne at Saratoga, has reason to believe that his 4-year-old filly can give a better accounting when she returns for Saturday’s $100,000 Belle Geste Stakes.

The Belle Geste, a seven-furlong overnight turf stakes for Ontario-foaled fillies and mares, attracted a field of six, headed by stakes winners Sugar Bay, Mullins Beach, and Indian Apple Is.

It’s always a risk to claim a horse, especially one who’s 9 years old, but Monmouth Park-based trainer Greg Sacco was willing to put up $17,500 to take Cuba in the hopes of turning a big profit by bringing back the old-timer three weeks later in the Maryland Million Classic.

Cuba, who won the Maryland Million Classic two years ago and was second last year, will try to regain his old form when he faces seven other older horses in Saturday’s $150,000 Classic, the feature on an all-stakes program on the 25th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Bill Tharrenos looked to have a strong one-two punch for Saturday’s $125,000 Victorian Queen Stakes at Woodbine, but he’s running just one of his two stable stars in the sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies, Lucky Be Me.

Tharrenos captured the Nandi Stakes in August with the speedy Tree Pose, who could have been favored in the Victorian Queen, but he opted to bypass the six-furlong event with her.

“We’re giving her a little break right now,” said Tharrenos. “She had a little issue that we’re dealing with. She’ll be fine.”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Kanonkule looks like the one to beat in a $7,500 claiming race that will serve as the feature race at Hastings Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds drew seven horses and goes as race 3 on the seven-race card that begins at 1:40 p.m.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The $127,400 Overskate Stakes on Wednesday night at Woodbine seemed wide open, but favored Sand Cove proved a comfortable winner of the Ontario-sired event, giving trainer Roger Attfield a meet-leading 11th stakes victory.

Sand Cove broke from the outside post in the 11-horse field under Jono Jones, and they stalking a slow pace from a three-wide position on the turn. Sand Cove hit the front near the sixteenth pole before drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:22.33 for the seven furlongs.

Saturday’s 24th running of the Best of Ohio series, five stakes for Ohio-breds, has some compelling story lines.

Slides Choice, the 2009 horse of the year in Ohio, will not only be attempting to defend her title but also her nose victory in last year’s Best of Ohio Distaff over Pay the Man.

Pay the Man also is entered in the Distaff, a race she won in 2008.

Sneak a Cold Treat, winner of last year’s nine-furlong Ohio Endurance, will this year go in the Best of Ohio Sprint, where he will tangle with defending champion Tri Umet.

Trainer Wesley Ward will be attacking the most significant card of the Remington Park meet next weekend when he sends out Pleasant Prince in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, Aegean in the $50,000 Flashy Lady, and Class of Fifty Two in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord. 

The races will all be run Oct. 10 as part of a program of five stakes worth more than $850,000.

Ike and Dawn Thrash have never had a better year on the racetrack in 25 years of horse ownership. Line of David won the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby for the Hattiesburg, Miss., couple in April. Hurricane Ike romped in the Grade 3 Derby Trial a few weeks later, and Tell a Kelly spent the summer establishing herself as arguably the top 2-year-old filly in North America.

“By far, this is our best year ever on the track,” Ike Thrash said.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Crowded House will have to earn his way into a Breeders’ Cup race at Churchill Downs this fall. Owner Paul Reddam and trainer Ben Cecil will know the colt’s status after Saturday’s $250,000 Goodwood Stakes at Hollywood Park.

A win or a sharp performance in the Grade 1 Goodwood over 1 1/8 miles could lead to a start in the BC Classic or Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6. A bad loss will lead to a vacation, Cecil said on Wednesday.