OPELOUSAS, La. – Ask trainer Al Stall Jr. about the “big” horse in his barn and thoughts immediately turn to Blame, whose victory in last Saturday’s Whitney Stakes elevated him to the top of the national handicap division. But in Stall’s home state of Louisiana, his most popular runner might be Star Guitar.

As dominant locally as his stablemate is nationally, Star Guitar will attempt to defend his title in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile on Saturday night. He will concede from five to 12 pounds to his eight rivals as the 123-pound highweight.

AUBURN, Wash. – Ready or not, a diverse cast of 3-year-old fillies will try to negotiate nine furlongs for the first time Saturday in the $75,000 Washington Oaks at Emerald Downs.

With no clear leader in the class, Emerald’s traditional championship for sophomore fillies attracted 11 entries, including two prominent contenders from Hastings in Vancouver, British Columbia. None of the 11 has raced farther than 1 1/16 miles, and three of them have never competed beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. Imponderables abound, and the betting figures to spread out among several top contenders.

The remarkable career of Ask Queenie continues Saturday at Suffolk Downs when the Massachusetts-bred mare heads the $50,000 First Episode Stakes.

It will be the 9-year-old’s sixth start in the mile and 70-yard race. She’s won the First Episode twice and has never finished out of the money. It is a testament to her career that being 2 for 5 in the First Episode constitutes a weak spot on her extensive r é sum è .

OCEANPORT, N.J. – The Monmouth Oaks has become a family affair for the Larry and Cindy Jones.

Larry Jones trained the last two winners of Monmouth Park’s top event for 3-year-old fillies: Maren’s Meadow (2008) and Just Jenda (2009).

Larry retired at the end of last year, turning the stable over to his wife, Cindy. Now the pressure is on Cindy to extend the Monmouth Oaks winning streak on Saturday with No Such Word in the Grade 3, $200,000 stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

“It would be three in a row for us,” Cindy Jones said. “And it’s all about the family, anyway.”

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sidney’s Candy had a successful introduction to grass racing last Sunday, zipping six furlongs in 1:11.80 in a workout.

That was all trainer John Sadler needed to see. After that, Saturday’s $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on turf became the goal and an opportunity for the colt’s fourth stakes win.

“I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t win, because of the way he worked on grass the other day,” Sadler said. “He handled the turf beautifully. It looked like he’d been on it 10 times.”

It is tough to separate the 2-year-olds who are running in the two divisions of the $50,000 Sales Stakes at Northlands Park Saturday.

Cactus Cat has been installed as the 7-5 favorite in the colts and geldings division, which drew seven horses and goes as race 7. Spirited Winner, 6-5, will have her hands full with Flatter Us in the fillies division, which attracted eight horses and goes as race 6. Both races are 6 1/2 furlongs.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Sam DiPasquale is having a productive meet with 2-year-olds, and his roll could continue Saturday at Woodbine when he runs I Fly High in the $150,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes.

I Fly High won her only outing with determination July 17, in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special, in which she dueled for the lead along the inside before drawing clear. Her time of 1:04.95 translated into a Beyer Figure of 62.

DiPasquale, who finished a close second in the July 31 Vandal Stakes with Ice Danger, said I Fly High is his best 2-year-old.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The graded stakes winner Against the Sky will try and get back on track when she drops into a $35,000 optional race at Hastings Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile feature drew eight fillies and mares, and goes as race 6 on the eight race card.

There were questions about Luckarack and King Cola early in their careers, but the two one-time claimers are the most accomplished runners coming into Saturday’s $50,000-added Cavonnier Juvenile at the Sonoma County Fair.

The two colts, each of whom won his debut in a $32,000 maiden claiming race, have five rivals in the six-furlong stakes race. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sends out a strong one-two punch in Ammunition and Kingsford Drive. The stakes-placed River’s Chapel, Over the Budget, and Banditontheloose round out the field.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Dual Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti breezed a strong five furlongs in 59.43 seconds Thursday morning over Saratoga’s Oklahoma turf course, his final move before he seeks a second straight victory in the Arlington Million on Aug. 21 in Chicago.