NEW ORLEANS - It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for young Peruvian jockey Miguel Mena. On July 30, Mena won the Sanford Stakes aboard Backtalk, a breakthrough graded stakes victory on the big stage at Saratoga. Two mornings later, he slept through a flight that was to take him from New York to West Virginia for the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. The horse he was supposed to ride, Soul Warrior, won the race for trainer Steve Asmussen. And the whole racing world seemed to know about Mena's misstep.

A statue of a battle-scarred gelding named Perennial once graced the entrance of Latonia Race Course, which was renamed Turfway Park shortly after Jerry Carroll bought the Florence, Ky., track in 1986.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas picked up a nice problem after the second race was run Thursday at Oaklawn Park: Having to separate a pair of quality 3-year-old fillies.

Tidal Pool became his second 3-year-old filly winner in less than a week when she dominated older rivals by eight lengths in a second-level allowance.

"And it was an awful good time, too," said Lukas.

Tidal Pool covered the mile in 1:36.58, which was one of the best times for the distance this meet at Oaklawn.

Witty so impressed trainer Richard Mandella with her comeback win in an allowance race on Thursday that he began to wonder about a start in a certain $5 million race in Arkansas in April.

When told that the third-place finisher of the Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9 is worth $500,000 if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta appear, it caught his attention. "Really?" he said.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There are no stars, or even familiar names, among the nine probable starters for the $150,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita next Saturday. That could change as the Triple Crown trail progresses over the next 60 days.

One thing is for sure: The first-place purse of $90,000 and the distinction of winning the Grade 3 Sham over 1 1/8 miles will greatly enhance one horse's chance of making it to the Kentucky Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Presious Passion spent his usual 30 to 40 minutes just standing out near the six-furlong gap on Thursday morning with his regular exercise rider Fernando Espinosa aboard, just as he has since returning to his training regimen following a brief hiatus several weeks ago.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There was a spring in the step of trainer Jonathan Sheppard in the Gulfstream Park stable area on Friday morning.

Perhaps he was fresh, fit, and dangerous following a visit to see the horses he has who are wintering in South Carolina. Perhaps it was the unseasonably cold weather here, which made everyone snap to attention. More likely, though, it was the news he recently received from owner George Strawbridge, who has decided to keep Forever Together, the 2008 Eclipse Award-winning female turf horse, in training for another year.

Will Rogers Downs near Tulsa has pushed back the start of its spring Thoroughbred meet from March 6 to March 20, the track announced late Thursday. The season will remain 32 dates in length as originally scheduled, with the track adding four Wednesdays and extending its meet a few additional days, to May 18.

The change in the opening date was made because of extreme winter weather conditions in Oklahoma.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Zenyatta breezed six furlongs in 1:14 at Hollywood Park on Thursday, leaving trainer John Shirreffs with glowing compliments about the condition of his unbeaten champion.

"She just galloped around there," he said. "She looked absolutely beautiful."

Zenyatta worked in company with El Vino, an unraced 4-year-old. El Vino worked six furlongs in 1:14.20. Shirreffs said Zenyatta worked in company "just to keep her comfortable with horses around her. I usually work her with another horse."

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Tom Bush wasn't sure what to expect when he saddled Good Law for a New York-bred optional claiming race over Aqueduct's inner track on Jan. 24. The betting public was equally perplexed, sending Good Law off at 10-1.

Bush and those who wagered on Good Law were pleasantly surprised when Good Law came storming from off the pace to win the race by 1 1/2 lengths.