Three of the nation's more accomplished sprinters and the two top Maryland-based speedsters are among the 37 horses pre-entered for the Grade 1, $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park next Saturday.

Among the names of pre-entries released Friday for the six-furlong De Francis was Fabulous Strike. He has been first or second in five starts - all Grade 1 or 2 sprints - during his 2009 campaign at age 6.

Also pre-entered was Kodiak Kowboy, who has defeated Fabulous Strike twice this year in Grade 1 races, the Carter Handicap and Vosburgh.

In stark contrast to the prevailing downward trends at North American racing, Keeneland has reported an increase in all-sources handle of nearly 10 percent for the first five days at the fall meet.

Through Thursday, wagering on the first five days totaled just more than $37 million, averaging more than $7.4 million daily, a noteworthy increase over the $33.7 million over the corresponding dates last year.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario Trainer Mike Keogh and owner/breeder Gustav Schickedanz won the 2003 running of the Cup and Saucer with Mobil, who would go on to become a Canadian champion and retire to stud with earnings of almost $2 million.

On Sunday, Keogh and Schickedanz will be looking for a second score in the $250,000 Cup and Saucer with Mobil Unit, a gelding who is one of the more promising members of Mobil s first crop.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - It would be impossible to predict the number of grins and awed expressions that will be made possible by what Keeneland and the Daily Racing Form started Thursday. The thousands of works of art by the legendary artist Peb have been turned over to the Keeneland Library, where racing fans of past, current, and future generations will be able fully to appreciate their genius.

STICKNEY, Ill. - The names at the top of the Hawthorne jockey standings - they're just strange. Through Thursday's action here, Ariel Smith led Israel Ocampo 14 wins to 12.

The $400,000 Oklahoma Derby last weekend at Remington Park was a big test for Fiddlers Afleet. He was moving back into open company for the first time in a while, he had shipped a considerable distance for the race from his base in New York, and he was running over 1 1/8 miles, a distance that appeared to be beyond his scope.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trick of the North will be making his 50th start when he runs in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers at Hastings on Sunday. With Teide in the field, the 8-year-old gelding will be a longshot in the 1 3/8-mile feature. Nonetheless, Trick of the North has certainly earned his way into the race with five wins this year.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - The Fort Erie racing season is rapidly moving toward its closing day on Oct. 27.

A number of laurels will be passed out to the leading trainer and jockey, along with honors for categories such as Fort Erie's horse of the year.

Nick Gonzalez and Rui Pimentel have the leading trainer and rider honors all locked up, but the battle for top horse this season has settled on three runners.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer John Sadler hopes to have six runners in Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita on Nov. 6-7, and he considers his best chance to be a colt who has not won since June.

Noble Court, the winner of the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap who has subsequently placed in two Grade 1 races for sprints, is bound for the $1 million BC Turf Sprint on Nov. 7 and has Sadler's confidence.

"He's got a good record and never runs a bad race," Sadler said.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Trainer Ken McPeek did his part in hitting for the cycle. Now all he needs is for House of Grace to get into the Breeders' Cup.

House of Grace, with Mike Luzzi in from New York to ride, was up in the final two jumps to capture the Thursday feature at Keeneland, the $150,000 Jessamine Stakes, giving McPeek a chance at having a horse in each of the four 2-year-old races at the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup.