Male graduates of the 2-year-olds in training sale held at Evangeline Downs in March take to the track Saturday night in the colt-and-gelding division of the $100,000 John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes. A total of 10 youngsters are slated to go 5 1/2 furlongs in the evening’s ninth race.

True Metropolitan, an 8-year-old gelding trained by Terry Jordan, may have lost a step or two over the past couple of seasons. But as a two-time Canadian champion with career earnings of more than $1.1 million, True Metropolitan still must be accorded the utmost respect in Saturday’s $30,000 R.J. Speers Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.

The R.J. Speers, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and upward, attracted a field of nine and True Metropolitan will break from post 7 with Gary Baze in the irons for the first time.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chestoria and You Go West Girl, two of the top New York-bred female turf runners, square off in Saturday’s $70,000 William B. Fasig Stakes for statebreds at Saratoga.

You Go West Girl defeated Chestoria twice last fall at Belmont, but Chestoria turned the tables on that rival in the Mt. Vernon, also at Belmont, in May. Previously a closer reliant on pace, Chestoria overcame slow fractions in the Mt. Vernon to get the job done.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Unrivaled Belle will be the odds-on favorite to defeat the five other fillies and mares who were entered Thursday for Sunday’s Grade 1 Ruffian. But after watching trainer Mark Casse send out Exclusive Love to finish second at 57-1 in Wednesday’s Grade 2 Lake George, it might be wise to take a little closer look at his red-hot Tasty Temptation in the 1 1/8-mile Ruffian.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Between races for California-breds and the occasional foray into graded stakes, Camille C has earned $287,551 from 14 starts for brothers Carlos and Marcelo Polanco.

Along the way, she won the Generous Portion Stakes for statebreds at Del Mar last summer, and the Melair Stakes for statebreds at Hollywood Park in April. Her success in that division makes her the favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar.

The conditions of the Fleet Treat are an ideal fit for Camille C – a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old statebred fillies.

Brian’s Choice is a member of a growing club: Horses who have been beaten by Aces N Kings. But he has fared better than most against the undefeated multiple stakes winner, and after running second to him last out should go favored in Saturday’s $50,000 Stardust at Louisiana Downs.

The six-furlong race is one of two stakes on the card, both restricted to 2-year-olds bred in Louisiana. The other is the $50,000 Laurel Lane, led by stakes winners Do Dat Blues and Full Rigged.

OCEANPORT, N.J. − Kiss the Kid has been retired at age 7, a blow to owner-trainer Amy Tarrant, who had hoped to run him Sunday at Monmouth Park in the Oceanport.

A multiple graded stakes winner, Kiss the Kid finished with a record of 8-7-7 in 40 starts and earnings of $820,873. He last ran in the Elkwood Stakes here on opening day, finishing third before being elevated one spot on a disqualification.

Kiss the Kid has battled a sesamoid injury since then, and Tarrant said the decision to retire him was made Wednesday.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Hunter’s Tiger Paw will put her three-race win streak on the line in the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks Saturday at Canterbury Park. The mile and 70-yard Oaks will be her first start on a conventional dirt surface.

Also on the card is the $60,000 Minnesota Derby, which will feature Bet Your Boots, winner of the Victor S. Myers Jr. Stakes here on July 17.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – None of the 3-year-olds expected to run in Saturday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy have established themselves as major contenders in the division. But by the end of summer, one or more just might.

While the marquee 3-year-olds such as Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky are slated to run in Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, there are several horses in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy that may be one start away from joining the ranks of the elite.

A 5-for-8 record typically means stakes races have been, or will be, on the agenda. But in the case of Dashel, there is no need to rush.

“Not at this point,” said Chris Block, who trains Dashel for his family’s high-profile Illinois stable, Team Block.

Lacking a stakes race, the Saturday program at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., is highlighted by a $46,920 turf-sprint allowance that has become the specialty of Dashel, who has a two-race winning streak.