FORT ERIE, Ontario - The apprehension and uncertainty that hung over Fort Erie Racetrack's future for the last few years has finally been put to and end, and an enthusiastic crowd turned out last Saturday for opening day of the track's 113th season.

A three-year leasing agreement between Nordic Gaming and the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium is now in place, and the new management team, led by chief executive officer Jim Thibert, welcomed the opening-day patrons and thanked them for their support.

Ice Bear breezed seven furlongs in 1:26 under jockey Chantal Sutherland and is slated to make his first start of the year in the Eclipse, rather than the Vigil.

"He's not a sprinter, and that race came up pretty tough," said trainer Mac Benson. "He's a decent work horse, so why run him when you don't have to?"

A 6-year-old homebred gelding who races for George Strawbridge's Augustin Stable, Ice Bear won last year's Eclipse in his second start of the season.

Ave gets ready for Gallorette

Milwaukee Appeal, Canada's champion 3-year-old filly last year, breezed four furlongs in 47.60 under exercise rider Michelle Rainford.

"She wasn't working in company but there was another horse about eight lengths in front of her, and she just kind of blew by her," said trainer Scott Fairlie.

Milwaukee Appeal is nominated to next Saturday's Shuvee at Belmont and to Sunday's Hendrie here at Wooodbine, and Fairlie said she will probably run in the Hendrie.

Hollinger, Canada's champion 2-year-old male last year and one of the early favorites for the Queen's Plate, breezed six furlongs in 1:11.60 here Friday morning under his regular rider Tyler Pizarro.

Working in company with a stablemate, Hollinger was caught in fractions of 23.20 seconds, 34.80, 46.40, and 59.40 by clocker Mike Lym.

"I couldn't be happier with him than I am right now," said trainer Roger Attfield.

Hollinger is slated to make his seasonal bow in Saturday's $150,000 Queenston, a seven-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Awesome Rhythm had a very productive spring here at Woodbine in 2009, putting together a stakes triple in open two-turn races for 3-year-olds. Now, following a winter in Florida, Awesome Rhythm looks to start getting back into the groove when he makes his first start of the year in Sunday's Grade 3 Vigil.

The Vigil, a seven-furlong race for 4-year-olds and upward, attracted a strong field of seven, including champions Fatal Bullet and Field Commission, as well as the talented Hollywood Hit.

Mountaineer racetrack in West Virginia has canceled its Friday night card, according to Equibase, because of a "management decision" arising out of a dispute between horsemen and riders over losing-mount fees.

Most jockeys based at Mountaineer have refused to accept mounts since the Friday card was drawn on Tuesday. Jockeys and representatives of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have been locked in a stalemate over the mount fees during negotiations taking place over the last seven days.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The pick six fell Thursday at Churchill Downs after more than $3.1 million was wagered into it, while the super high five also was hit.

A winning $2 pick six ticket was worth $21,317.80, with the winning numbers in the sequence being 5-2-6-8-5-10. Churchill officials reported 134 perfect tickets being sold, with 11 of them sold ontrack. Tickets with 5 of 6 paid $171.60.

The super high five returned $30,912 for a $1 wager. Twenty winners were sold, one ontrack.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Musket Man, who finished third in Saturday's Churchill Downs Sprint, will probably make his next start in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 12, trainer Derek Ryan said Thursday.

Ryan was between the Stephen Foster and the Metropolitan Handicap on May 31 at Belmont Park, but he does not find the prospect of running against Quality Road in the Met too appealing.

AUBURN, Wash. - Lingering concerns about a horse shortage at Emerald Downs were momentarily put to rest Wednesday when horsemen submitted entries for the weekend. Saturday's nine-race card filled with 76 horses, an average of 8.44 per race, and Sunday's 10-race program attracted 83, or 8.3 per race. Average field size at Emerald in 2009 was 7.43 horses per race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When Calvin Borel won his first Kentucky Derby three years ago aboard Street Sense, local racing fans were eager to show their appreciation on the next day of live racing at Churchill Downs. Before the first race on May 9, 2007, they surrounded the paddock, cheered heartily, and told Borel they knew he always had it in him.