ALBANY, Calif. - Everyone loves the Cinderellas of horse racing, but for every inexpensive horse that hit it big, there are probably dozens of six- and seven-figure horses who flopped.

CHICAGO - Injured jockey Rene Douglas is breathing on his own after having been taken off a ventilator machine, but still has not regained feeling in his legs after suffering an injury to his spinal cord in a one-horse spill May 23 at Arlington.

Doreen Razo, wife of jockey Eddie Razo, and a close friend of Douglas's wife, Natalie, said the breathing apparatus was removed from Douglas at 4:30 p.m. on Monday by medical staff at the trauma unit of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. So, for the first time since his accident, Douglas can speak.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Southdale, a leading contender for the June 21 Queen's Plate, came out of last weekend's Plate trial with an injury and is expected to be be sidelined for at least the balance of the summer.

A thorough examination on Monday found the source of the problem.

"He's hurt up in the shoulder," said Ian Black, who trains Southdale for owner/breeder Rod Ferguson.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It certainly didn't take long for Eye of the Leopard to change his spots.

Unplaced when he debuted in a maiden race at Keeneland on April 15, a maiden winner here May 10, and now a stakes winner after Sunday's Plate Trial, Eye of the Leopard has established himself as one of the favorites for the $1 million Queen's Plate at 1 1/4 miles here June 21.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After a three-year hiatus, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is back in the Belmont Stakes with two horses who figure to be overlooked by the betting public. But as history has demonstrated, dismiss Lukas at your own peril.

Lukas is a four-time winner of the Belmont, his last victory in this classic coming in 2000 with 18-1 shot Commendable, who finished 17th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby. Lukas's four runners in this race since have fared no better than fifth.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Tasty Temptation and Milwaukee Appeal, the second- and third-place finishers in the open La Lorgnette at 1 1/16 miles here May 17, head a probable field of 14 for Sunday's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks.

The Woodbine Oaks, at 1 1/8 miles, is this country's premier test for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Politelyprecocious and First Circle, both trained by Mike Keogh, had their final Woodbine Oaks tune-ups over six furlongs here Monday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mother Russia handled the turf and Minnie Punt handled the rise in class as both captured divisions of the $75,000 New York Stallion Stakes on Sunday at Belmont Park.

In the Cupecoy's Joy division, for 3-year-old fillies, Mother Russia was tipped three-wide by Ramon Dominguez in upper stretch, rallied past Jet's Tradition in midstretch, and easily held off the late charge from Wild Awake to win by two lengths. Wild Awake got second by a neck over Jet's Tradition.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. Sunday was declared G. R. Carter Jr. Day in Oklahoma by Gov. Brad Henry. Carter, 41, the all-time leading Quarter Horse rider by wins, won riding honors at the Remington Park Quarter Horse meet, which concluded Sunday. Carter ended the 50-day meet with 89 wins, while his mounts earned almost $1.8 million, a record for a Quarter Horse meet at the track. Fans lined up for an autograph session with Carter and a bobblehead giveaway.

Apolloonamission and Teller Shes an Angel won the final stakes of the meet.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Jockey Ramsey Zimmerman spent Saturday night in a Shreveport hospital after suffering a concussion in an accident during a race earlier in the day at Louisiana Downs.

Zimmerman had just taken command in the afternoon's fourth race aboard a 2-year-old first-time starter named Woodrow Call when his mount suddenly veered into the rail, slamming Zimmerman violently to the ground. He was transported immediately to the LSU Medical Center, where an MRI revealed no signs of a skull fracture. The rider was retained overnight for observation.

Three-year-old Brother Terry rallied steadlily through the stretch under an energetic ride from Christian Pilares to eke out a neck win over his five older Ohio-bred rivals in the $55,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap at Thistlesdown on Saturday. Ramblin Mike finished second, three-quarters of a length quicker than the odds-on favorite Catlaunch in the six-furlong race.

Brother Terry has won three stakes from four starts since shipping back to his native soil from Calder Race Course, where he won twice.