There's hot, red hot, and white hot. In Pleasanton, there's now Bonde hot.

Trainer Jeff Bonde won seven races, including both Thoroughbred stakes, during the first week of the Pleasanton meet. His wins came from 10 runners entered in nine races.

Bonde was working at his barn Monday morning, pinching himself to see if he was, as he put it, "in horse heaven."

"I've been training a long time and never had something like this," said Bonde, who is from Pleasanton.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The absence of a standout older horse in California will lead to a large field in Saturday's $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup.

Because the Churchill Downs surface was still wet from heavy weekend rain, trainer Chip Woolley decided Monday morning to delay by one day a scheduled workout for Mine That Bird. Instead he had a routine gallop.

Rap Tale didn't run her best in three straight races that were shifted from turf to the main track. When she finally got to run on grass, Rap Tale responded well to the surface.

Ridden for the first time by Luis Garcia, the 4-year-old filly Rap Tale ($8) was sent to the front in Saturday night's $50,000 Brookmeade Stakes at Colonial Downs and just held off Deeliteful Star by a head in the one-mile turf race restricted to Virginia-bred fillies and mares.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - A bold gamble on a first-time starter at the Fair Grounds meeting six months ago paid off for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling, whose Sirrah captured the $50,000 Northbound Pride Stakes at Canterbury Park on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Superstar filly Rachel Alexandra went back to work Monday morning, breezing a half-mile over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga as she prepares for her yet-to-be-determined next start.

Rachel Alexandra breezed a half-mile in 50.67 seconds shortly before 6 a.m. Monday with regular exercise rider Dominic Terry in the irons. Track clockers caught her first quarter in 25 seconds and had her galloping out five furlongs in 1:05.

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Sierra Sunset ($4.60) capped off a big week for trainer Jeff Bonde with an easy five-length victory in the $57,000 Alamedan Handicap at the Alameda County Fair on Sunday.

Making his second start since undergoing ankle surgery following a victory in last year's Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park, Sierra Sunset established control of the race immediately and was never headed. He never gave odds-on favorite Bold Chieftain a chance, opening a five-length lead on the turn, which he maintained to the wire in the 1 1/16-mile race. The winning time was 1:41.24.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Apple Crumble rebounded from her disappointing effort last out at Prairie Meadows to easily handle her 3-year-old Nebraska-bred rivals in the $20,600 Breeders Special Fillies at Lincoln State Fair on Sunday.

Ridden by Jordan Olesiak, Apple Crumble waited patiently as Ms. Bumper sprinted off to a long lead down the backstretch of the six-furlong race. With Ms. Bumper still leading by three lengths at the top of the stretch, Apple Crumble rallied strongly and drew off to score by 4 1/2 under a hand ride in the field of six.

California invader Hurley's Way rallied from off the pace to finish with a rush and get up in time to post head win over his six Ohio-bred 3-year-old rivals in the $100,000 Cleveland Gold Cup at Thistledown on Saturday. Bold Captain was second, 1 3/4 lengths quicker than Gordon.

Hurley's Way is owned by the Double M. Foster Stable and trained by William Cowans, and was ridden by Rodney Prescott. He got the nine furlongs in 1:53 flat over the fast track and returned $5.80 to win.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird had his first breeze at Monmouth Park on Monday morning, an easy five furlongs in 1:04.40.

The colt arrived here Friday to prepare for the $1 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds on Aug. 2. Summer Bird galloped over the track Saturday and Sunday, leading to his first timed drill on the strip with exercise rider Leo Atempa aboard.