ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wando has been repatriated and will be standing at stud at Gustav Schickedanz’s nearby Schonberg Farm.

Wando, a Schickedanz homebred by Langfuhr out of Kathie’s Colleen, was the Canadian triple crown winner and Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2003. He retired in 2005 with a record of 11-2-2 from 23 starts and earnings of $2,566,060.

His years as a stallion at Lane’s End in Kentucky were not nearly as successful, however, and Wando is returning in search of greener pastures.

Stephanson could have an edge in Friday’s feature at Northlands Park, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint that drew nine older horses running for a $17,500 claiming price.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Everywhere Linda Rice goes, everybody wants to know one thing – can she do it again?

In 2009, Rice became the first female to win a trainer’s title at Saratoga – or any other top-level racetrack for that matter – when she beat the Goliath that is Todd Pletcher, 20-19. With the 142nd Saratoga meet set to begin Friday, Rice tries to remain practical when asked by fans and media whether she can repeat the achievement.

An outstanding spring for Jose Gonzalez’s Balgo Racing Team earlier this year is continuing this summer at Los Alamitos.

In May, Balgo Racing won the Kindergarten Futurity with West Coast Hawk. Last Saturday, the stable’s Hot Hitter was the fastest qualifier in time trials for the $428,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity on July 31. In addition, Balgo is sending recent Los Alamitos winner Breanna Moon to Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico for the time trials for the All American Futurity in August.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Pick-four players might want to use all of the horses in the seventh race at Hastings on Friday as it is difficult to separate the eight older sprinters running for a top claiming price of $17,500.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – What a difference a day makes. Just ask owners Steve and Pat Roe.

Last Friday at Louisiana Downs, they were eagerly awaiting the afternoon’s second race. They had the 3-5 favorite and impressive winner of her last two races Carson’s Twinkle set to go postward in the mile and 70 yard affair for nonwinners of four races lifetime. That anticipation soon turned to anxiety when Carson’s Twinkle broke through the gate prior to the start and ran off a short distance before being apprehended by one of the outriders.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, Rick Dutrow, and Linda Rice are likely to be near or at the top of the Saratoga trainer standings, there are a number of lesser-profile trainers who could enjoy success at the Spa this summer.

In alphabetical order, here’s a look at five horsemen to watch:

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The numbers jump off the past performance page: 19-7-4-1. That is the record compiled so far this Arlington meet by horses trained by Lisa Merritt. It is an excellent record by any measure, but even more so considering that Merritt has only eight horses stabled at Arlington, and that she won only four races during all of 2009.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Most years, the top horses on Million Preview Day at Arlington disappear either literally or figuratively when Arlington Million Day itself rolls around in August. But Million Preview Day 2010 looked stronger than most years going into the races, and it appears that the three graded grass stakes contested here Saturday will have more impact than usual on the three Grade 1 grass races scheduled for Aug. 21.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux has begun counseling sessions to address issues involving his alcohol use.

On July 1, Desormeaux failed a Breathalyzer test at Woodbine, necessitating that he be taken off Hold Me Back, who won that day’s $200,000 Dominion Day Handicap under jockey Tyler Pizarro. In May, Desormeaux was noticeably drunk during a radio interview a few days after the Kentucky Derby, in which he received some criticism for his ride on Paddy O’Prado, who was beaten a neck for second by Ice Box.