AUBURN, Wash. - Business is down, but not precipitously, as Emerald Downs enters the heart of its summer schedule. A little more than halfway through the 89-day meeting, total betting handle generated on Emerald races, and by Emerald patrons on out-of-state races, is off 7 percent from the corresponding date in 2009, track president Ron Crockett said Monday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Malcolm Pierce's fortunes took a turn for the better here at Woodbine last week.

Pierce, who had been batting well below his usual percentage this season, was 3 for 5 last week, highlighted by a one-two finish by Mullins Beach and Much Obliged in last Friday's allowance prep for the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes on Aug. 2.

Arrow's Conquest had chipped in with a first-level allowance race earlier on last Friday's card and Posh Sox was a first-out winner in an Ontario-sired maiden race on Saturday.

Fortunia and Lady Giacamo, who both have developed into fillies of note during the course of the Lone Star Park meet that ends on Sunday, are headed to Del Mar. Each is targeting separate stakes at the Southern California track, with Fortunia to be part of a small division of horses her trainer, former champion jockey Cash Asmussen, plans to have at Del Mar.

"I'm going to take four or five out there," he said.

Superior Storm, who had never been beaten in a Louisiana-bred stakes until her fourth-place finish in the $100,000 Louisiana Showcase Distaff at Evangeline on July 3, had a significant excuse for the very rare defeat.

"She didn't sweat," said Rick Jackson, who trains Superior Storm. "It just took a lot out of her. She couldn't finish. She just overheated is what she did. Basically, the best thing for her will be cold weather. She won't start back while it's hot."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Zenyatta had two stablemates for targets in a six-furlong workout at Hollywood Park on Tuesday, and their presence gave the exercise a different look for the undefeated two-time champion.

Zenyatta was timed in 1:14.40, her third workout since her 17th career win in the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap on June 17. Tuesday's workout moved Zenyatta closer to a potential start in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 7.

MIAMI - Life has been a struggle for Calder horsemen over the last several years. Declining handle, a continuous rise in workers' compensation fees, and other expenses combined with a squabble with management over advance-deposit wagering rights a couple of seasons back has made it tough for owners and trainers based in south Florida to keep their businesses viable.

But for one day, local horsemen had a reason to smile. For one day, it was good to be a Calder owner and trainer.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trappe Shot is on target for the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Tuesday. Trappe Shot won the Long Branch at Monmouth on Saturday, and the first two finishers in the Long Branch are extended invitations to the Haskell, to be run Aug. 1. McLaughlin will gladly accept the offer.

"He came out of the race great," McLaughlin said. "He ran very well and we're looking at the Haskell. That's pretty firm. That's why we took him down there to see how he'd handle things. Yes, we're looking to run back there."

The purses of three leading stakes have been reduced from 2009 levels and one race has been eliminated at the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Fairplex Park, which runs from Sept. 9-27. The county fair announced the 2010 stakes schedule on Thursday.

The richest race for older horses at the meeting remains the Ralph Hinds Pomona Invitational over 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 26. The purse of the race has been cut from $125,000, to $75,000.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The moods of man and horse ranged from delighted to irritable at trainer Craig Dollase's stable at Hollywood Park on Sunday morning.

Dollase himself was the happy one, basking in the afterglow of a victory by Awesome Gem in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday, the 7-year-old gelding's first Grade 1 win.

Awesome Gem himself was a little more ornery. "He's irritable, and when he's irritable, he's tired," Dollase said.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Free Fee Lady wasn't given much of a chance in Sunday's $250,000 Bison City as she was sent away at 15-1 in a field of just four Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

But when the mist had cleared it was Free Fee Lady, making her stakes debut and first start around two turns for owner Dick Bonnycastle and trainer Reade Baker, who emerged a four-length winner with jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons for the first time.