ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Usual Q. T., who was slated to arrive from California on Tuesday, heads a strong contingent of prospective California shippers for this year’s Woodbine Mile.

The field for Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile was firming up as of Monday morning, with 13 candidates having an eye on the turf prize for 3-year-olds and upwards.

The Usual Q.T. put together a six-race win streak on California’s turf courses last year and has captured an open allowance and the 1 1/8-mile Eddie Read on the grass this season.

POMONA, Calif. – Bettors looking for a sure thing Wednesday at Fairplex Park will appreciate trainer Mike Harrington’s analysis.

Harrington starts likely favorite Swiss Tart and longshot Edgewick Road in the $50,000 C.B. Afflerbaugh Stakes for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs. Harrington likes the chalk.

Swiss Tart “should be 4-5, and I expect him to run that way,” Harrington said.

Swiss Tart ran the best race of his eight-start career nine days ago on Sept. 6, finishing second in the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes. It was his fourth start of the seven-week Del Mar meet.

Mr. Shadar heads the list of 75 horses nominated to the Fall Classic on Saturday. The Fall Classic features seven stakes races for Alberta-breds worth a total of $350,000.

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Husker Ridge rallied to the leaders going to the far turn and drew off to score by four lengths in the $15,500 Columbus Futurity for 2-year-old Nebraska-breds as Columbus closed out its meet Sunday afternoon.

Husker Ridge, under leading rider Luis Ranilla, was making her third start in the field of five maiden runners and won under a hand ride. Trained by Dean Bliss, Husker Ridge earned $9,300 for her maiden win and returned $5.20 as the 8-5 favorite. Husker Ridge covered the distance in 1:17.60 over a fast track.

The move from synthetics to dirt was a boon for Southern California shipper River Echo, who pulled a 19-1 upset Sunday in the $100,000 Premiere Cup Handicap at Zia Park. The six-furlong race opened the stakes schedule at the Hobbs, N.M., track, which runs a mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

AUBURN, Wash. – Noosa Beach capped a record-setting meeting with an easy victory Sunday in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, one of six stakes for statebreds on Washington Cup Day at Emerald Downs.

The 4-year-old by Harbor the Gold won for the sixth time in seven starts in 2010, and set an Emerald Downs record with his fifth stakes victory; he had been one of 10 horses to record four stakes win in a season at the suburban Seattle track, which opened in 1996.

Outoftheclouds got up in the last jump to edge longshot Peach Blossom by a neck in the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Hastings on Sunday.

Trained by Mel Snow, Outoftheclouds ($3.60)had one horse beat after a half-mile in 46.09 seconds in the 6 ½-furlong sprint that was contested over a sloppy track. He was still fifth in the six-horse field at the top of the stretch but jockey Dave Wilson had him moving strongly on the outside of horses. El Aguila Real, who had dueled with Peach Blossom the whole way, held on to finish third.

What About Ruby, a filly who is unbeaten in two starts, defeated a field of six 2-year-old Indiana-bred colts and geldings to win the $84,000 Hillsdale at Hoosier Park on Sunday afternoon.

Trained by Merrill Scherer, What About Ruby ($2.40)was scratched from Saturday’s City of Anderson, an event restricted to 2-year-old statebred fillies. The move proved to be a good one by Scherer, as the Hillsdale was run a full second slower than the City of Anderson.

Trainer John Kimmel was certainly not sad to see the Saratoga meet come to an end. Kimmel went just 1 for 41 at the Spa, losing with his last 38 starters since the 2-year-old filly Silvislip won a maiden race on opening day.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The aptly-named Bear’s Future extended his unbeaten record to two races with a handy score in the $153,300 Swynford Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

Bear’s Future ($3.10) covered seven furlongs on the Polytrack in 1:23.58 in the sprint for 2-year-olds, and banked $90,000 for Bear Stable.

Reade Baker trains Bear’s Future, a son of freshman sire Rockport Harbor who came wide from a stalking position to prevail by 3 ½ lengths under Gerry Olguin.