VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Crew Leader makes his much-anticipated second start in a $50,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds, the feature race Saturday at Hastings. Run at 6 1/2 furlongs, the sprint drew six horses and goes as race 4 on the eight-race card that begins at 1:40 p.m. Pacific.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Trainer Eric Guillot admits that In Jack’s Memory may be ambitiously placed in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga on Aug. 2, when he is expected to make his graded stakes debut against the likes of Discreetly Mine, General Maximus, and perhaps Noble’s Promise. But anybody who watched In Jack’s Memory work a bullet five furlongs in 59.08 seconds here Thursday might not dismiss him.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Last summer at Arlington, Peyote Patty was a curiosity. How many horses, after all, are named after the cactus from which the psychedelic drug mescaline is derived? Peyote Patty had name cachet, and she was based downstate at Fairmount Park, home to few horses with real ability. And, all of a sudden in late spring 2009, she had talent. An eight-race maiden at one point, Peyote Patty won at Hawthorne in April, then won four more times during Arlington’s season, a win skein capped by a victory in the $100,000 Illinois Owners Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen had the option of running his top 2-year-old prospect Kantharos in Sunday’s Grade 2 Sanford. And while the trainers of the seven other juveniles who entered the Grade 2 dash may have breathed a sigh of relief when Kantharos’ name was not in the entry box when the six-furlong Sanford was drawn early Thursday afternoon, Asmussen may still have the one to beat when he sends out Chipshot in the first of three graded stakes for 2-year-old males to be decided at Saratoga this summer.

Having the role of fastest qualifier for a major Quarter Horse race at Ruidoso Downs is commonplace for Love Samba. Winning a lucrative final is not.

Last year, Love Samba was fourth in the Rainbow Futurity and fifth in the All American Futurity as the favorite. She was the fastest qualifier for both races. This year, the theme continues. Love Samba is the fastest qualifier for Saturday’s $873,441 Rainbow Derby, and trainer Blane Wood is begging for a breakthrough.

For both the filly herself, and the New Jersey racing industry as a whole, Rachel Alexandra’s appearance at Monmouth Park couldn’t come at a better time.

On the heels of a New Jersey commission report that called for the state no longer to provide financial assistance to the racing industry as well as to investigate selling both Meadowlands and Monmouth Park, Rachel Alexandra’s presence in Saturday’s $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes should provide racing officials and fans an uplifting experience.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Between his running styles and his accomplishments, The Usual Q.T. seems to evolve every six months.

At this time last year, he was a maiden after six starts. By the beginning of 2010, he had won four stakes, highlighted by a victory in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last fall. The Usual Q.T. has no stakes wins this year, but his style of running has changed, according to jockey Victor Espinoza.

Saturday afternoon’s third race at Louisiana Downs may be the last opportunity to see the promising filly Good Human Bean in allowance company, at least for a while.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Grand Adventure will be charting unknown territory at nine furlongs in Saturday’s $300,000 Nijinsky Stakes at Woodbine, while Spice Route cuts back from 1 1/2 miles in the Grade 2 turf event. They head an eight-horse field that includes two runners who are well suited to the distance, the Ian Black-trained duo of Rahy’s Attorney and Southdale.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – But for a fraction of an inch, Danzon would not be here Saturday to compete as the likely favorite in the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeders’ Cup Stakes.

“If she hadn’t won her last race, we would’ve been eligible for an allowance race at Saratoga, and that’s where we would’ve run,” said trainer Jimmy Baker.