VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Apprentice jockey Geovanni Franco should start riding better horses at Hastings. Franco, 18, began his career at the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City this year, where he won three races before he left. Franco didn't arrive at Hastings until the meet was well under way, on June 28, and it wasn't surprising that it took him a while to get going. Last weekend, he booted home two longshot winners: Solidago at $27.90 on Friday and Wanna Be Notised ($22.50) on Saturday. So far, he has ridden 16 horses at the meet.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park will request four fewer days of racing during its upcoming fall meeting than originally allotted by the California Horse Racing Board, track president Jack Liebau said Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Tam Lin won an overnight stakes Thursday at Belmont Park to get Godolphin Racing off the duck.

It was the first win at the meet for the stable that is usually a prominent presence. The barn was winless in 10 tries until Tam Lin broke the ice.

As Belmont winds down, things are starting to look brighter with Saratoga getting underway on July 28.

MIAMI - The Florida Stallion Stakes's loss will be Saratoga's gain after owner Paul Pompa Jr. privately purchased D'Funnybone from trainer Joe Calascibetta for an undisclosed sum earlier this week.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - A competitive second-level optional claiming race is Sunday's feature at Louisiana Downs. The 7 1/2-furlong turf affair drew a field of nine, including probable favorite Cashinmywranglers and the consistent Sligo Joe.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Well-prepared horseplayers still welcome the annual headfirst dive into Del Mar. But things are different now in California.

It seems sharks are everywhere. Whether splashing around in the Pacific Ocean or betting horses nearby on the main track at Del Mar, it is a good idea to stick a toe in the water before jumping in all the way. These days, there is always a surprise.

Barry Abrams

Nicanor, the full brother to Barbaro and the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the $750,000 Virginia Derby on Saturday at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., was scratched from the race Friday after suffering an unspecified injury to his hind end the previous afternoon.

Deliverer will be making a notable class move at Lone Star Park when he drops into a $7,500 starter allowance from the restricted stakes ranks. He is one of eight older horses in the six-furlong starter, with his chief rivals being Runnin' the River, who is a threat to wire the field, and Smoken Smoke and Lunarpeal.

Blumin Won returns to Nebraska to headline the $27,500 Who Doctor Who Handicap, the featured race on day three of the Horsemen's Park Festival of Racing. The Who Doctor Who matches seven older Nebraska-breds at a mile.

Blumin Won shipped to Canterbury Park with trainer Mike Kirby following back-to-back wins at Fonner Park this spring. In three starts there, he finished third twice and and most recently was second against optional claiming company on the turf. The turf-to-dirt switch off his strong showing last out may be enough to propel him to victory here under Ken Shino.