SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Blame’s arrival at the top of the handicap division has been as a result of the successful implementation, thus far, of a plan put in place by his connections last December.

Following Blame’s victory in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27, owners Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider and trainer Al Stall sat down to map out a plan for the colt’s 4-year-old season that would hopefully culminate with a return trip to the Churchill Downs winner’s circle in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pearl of Valor will likely be favored in Wednesday’s Woodbine headliner for fillies and mares, but she’s had 10 chances at this first allowance condition and certainly isn’t worth backing at a skimpy price.

Pearl of Valor was claimed for $30,000 on Jan. 31 at Fair Grounds by trainer Steve Asmussen, who sent her out to finish a close third there in a 1 1/16-mile allowance that was taken off the turf March 12.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Twelve hours after watching the fastest colt in his barn win a Grade 1 stakes, trainer Steve Asmussen watched the fastest filly in his care continue preparations for a start in an upcoming Grade 1 race.

Rachel Alexandra, the reigning Horse of the Year, zipped through a six-furlong workout in 1:12.96 Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track. Rachel Alexandra is preparing for a start in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes here on Aug. 29.

AUBURN, Wash. - Carrabelle Harbor made short work of six rivals Sunday in the $50,000 Angie C. Stakes for 2-year-fillies at Emerald Downs. A daughter of burgeoning stallion sensation Harbor the Gold, Carrabelle Harbor won for the second time in as many starts and did it easily, by 9-1/4 lengths. She ran six furlongs in 1:10.40 and paid $4.

The Gang and I finished second, a neck ahead of Wings of Pegasus. Iforgottobeme, Giacomina, Boogie to Seattle, and Ms Moscow Mattie completed the order of finish.

AUBURN, Wash. - Winter Warlock raced to a three-quarter-length victory Sunday in the Premio Esmeralda, the first unrestricted stakes for 2-year-olds at the Emerald Downs meeting.

The first winner, and now first stakes winner, for first-year stallion Demon Warlock, Winter Warlock took home the $24,750 winner’s share from the $50,000 purse and increased his bankroll to $35,230 for an ownership group headed by Tim Floyd and James Broussard of Spokane, Wash.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Moudez ($14.20) unleashed an electrifying stretch run, rallying from last to win the $58,500 Joseph Grace at the Sonoma County Fair on Sunday.

The victory was his third straight, but his first since April 19, 2007, when he won the Forerunner at Keeneland.

An Irish-bred son of Xaar, Moudez broke well and stalked nicely through the opening quarter-mile of the 1 1/16-mile turf race. As the field turned into the backstretch, jockey Michael Martinez dropped him back to last, biding his time seven lengths behind pacesetter Restless Youth.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Heza Wild Guy outdueled 5-2 favorite Kaddish to score a half-length victory in the $50,000 John Bullit at 1 1/16 miles on turf Sunday at Canterbury Park.

A 9-year-old, Heza Wild Guy ($7.20) won his second straight race, moving his career wins total to 27. In his previous start, he scored a 1 3/4-length win in the AJ Foyt at Indiana Downs on July 14.

Sunday, Heza Wild Guy took the lead early and set easy fractions of 24.89 and 50.16 seconds. Kaddish stalked in second and challenged the leader turning for home.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - J P's Gusto is proving impossible to beat in sprint stakes for 2-year-olds in Southern California this summer.

Sunday, J P's Gusto won his third consecutive stakes in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs, a prep to the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs Sept. 8.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Officially, it took Majesticperfection a little more than 68 seconds to win Sunday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga. In reality, the race was over in just under 23 seconds.

When Majesticperfection, under Shaun Bridgmohan, got to run uncontested through an opening quarter in 22.80 seconds, trainer Steve Asmussen said he thought "you'd better win from there."

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Secret Gypsy’s love affair with Saratoga’s main track continued Sunday when she rallied past the pace-setting One Smokin’ Lady approaching the quarter pole and cruised to a two-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss Stakes.

Hour Glass finished second by a neck over Warbling, the 3-2 favorite who was moving when the gates opened and broke last under Julien Leparoux. Pretty Prolific and One Smokin’ Lady completed the order of finish.