SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Even though most of the horses typically aren’t stakes-caliber, the Claiming Crown occasionally showcases some of the most successful personalities in racing.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Dances With Ashley makes her debut for trainer Bruce Levine in the $100,000 Dearly Precious Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Friday at Monmouth Park. She also lands in a more forgiving spot in her first start for the new barn.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Will a Breeders’ Cup race finally be in Vineyard Haven’s future this year? The first step towards answering that question comes Friday at Saratoga when the three-time Grade 1 winner makes his long-awaited 2010 debut in the $75,000 James Marvin Stakes, a seven-furlong overnight event that drew a very talented field of older horses.

Also lined up for the race are multiple graded stakes winners such as Friesan Fire and Le Grand Cru, Grade 2 winner You and I Forever, Discreet Treasure, Cool Coal Man, Flat Bold, Silver Edition and Half Metal Jacket.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A last-minute decision by trainer Mel Snow to run Ganbei in the $52,000 S. W. Randall Plate last Sunday at Hastings resulted in a pleasant surprise when Ganbei came from last to nip pacesetter Burj Dubai in the final stride. Most surprised was his rider, Mario Gutierrez, who hadn’t ridden Ganbei since they teamed to win a $12,500 claiming race last year.

“I didn’t think he was going to run anything like that,” Gutierrez said. “He ran a big race, and luckily, we got there just in time.”

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Rachel Alexandra will face six rivals Saturday in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park. The defending Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra drew post 5 with regular rider Calvin Borel aboard.

The winner of last year’s Haskell Invitational over the colts, Rachel Alexandra returns to Monmouth Park for the first time in a race customized to the specifications of trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Jess Jackson.

Originally slated for Aug. 1 at 1 1/16 miles, the Lady’s Secret was shifted to this weekend at 1 1/8 miles with $250,000 added to the purse.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Believing that Mine That Bird got nothing out of his race in the Firecracker Handicap on July 4, trainer D. Wayne Lukas on Wednesday put a stiff mile workout into the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 7.

With his regular rider Calvin Borel in the irons, Mine That Bird worked a mile – one full lap around the Oklahoma training track – in 1:40.14, picking up scheduled company for the final half-mile of the breeze.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trick Skate finished last in the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park on June, but the loss did not affect trainer Molly Pearson’s outlook for the filly’s summer campaign.

“She had the worst trip,” Pearson said.

Pearson and owner-breeder Craig Jones have tried to forget how Trick Skate was in traffic twice in the Cinderella and quickly out of contention. They are focusing on an easier spot, Friday’s $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at Del Mar.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – The nominal high point of the annual Claiming Crown series is the $150,000 Jewel, the richest race in the $500,000 series. But when entries were drawn Wednesday for the six Saturday races at Canterbury Park, it was quite evident that the top supporting feature, the $100,000 Emerald, shapes up as the most compelling event in the 12th running of the so-called “blue collar” showcase.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In the 26 meets from 1976-2001, only six jockeys have been leading rider at Saratoga. In each of the last four years, a different rider has won the title, capped by Ramon Dominguez’s first crown in 2009.

If Dominguez is to repeat – and win his 10th consecutive New York Racing Association meet title – he’s going to have to do it against the deepest riding colony assembled here in many years.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Lookin At Lucky worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 over the Polytrack at Del Mar on Wednesday, preparing for a start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 1. Lookin At Lucky is expected to meet Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and impressive Long Branch winner Trappe Shot in the Haskell.

The exercise left trainer Bob Baffert partly satisfied, although he said he was not thrilled with the final time, which he said was the result of a deep track.

“The track is like quicksand,” he said. “It’s slow.”