ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer Chris Block talked recently about retiring Fort Prado at the end of 2009. On Saturday, 8-year-old Fort Prado showed why he hasn't been retired yet, winning the Black Tie Affair Handicap by a neck over favored Gentleman Chester in a rousing conclusion to the six-stakes Prairie State Festival for Illinois-breds.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine Oaks winner Milwaukee Appeal has improved by leaps and bounds since making her first two career starts in maiden claimers, and she should be well-backed on Sunday in the 150th running of the $1 million Queen's Plate.

Milwaukee Appeal and Oaks runner-up Tasty Temptation were both supplemented to the Plate at a cost of $25,000, and both have legitimate shots in the 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Fillies have won the Plate 33 times, with the last being Dancethruthedawn in 2001. Ginger Brew was a close second in last year's running.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Repelling a solid challenge on the backstretch, Grazen won his stakes debut in Saturday's at Hollywood Park. The style of the win suggested that the late-developing 3-year-old could show further improvement.

Grazen led throughout the Grade 3 Affirmed. He fought off a threat from longshot Fiddlers Afleet through early fractions of 24.06 and 46.97 seconds before pulling away to win by 2 3/4 lengths under a confident ride from jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Smart Surprise ($5.10), trained by Josie Carroll for Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, won the $105,500 Hill 'n' Dale Stakes at Woodbine.

Smart Surprise led throughout the 1 1/16-mile route, setting slow fractions of 24.66 and 49.44 seconds under Patrick Husbands. Favored Serenading, another Hill 'n' Dale runner, rallied along the rail into contention on the far turn before fading to fourth. Roses 'n' Wine finished second, and Arden Belle closed for third in the six-horse field of fillies and mares.

Possetothemax continued to show his versatility, rallying from just off the pace before outlasting a fast-closing Lettie's Relic by a neck to capture Saturday's $55,000 Reappeal Stakes at Calder.

Possetothemax came into the Reappeal off an eight-length, entry-level optional claiming and allowance win over a sloppy main track. That performance earned him a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure. He had little trouble, though, readjusting to a turf course over which he had already posted two victories in three previous tries.

Our Edge ($6.60) led all the way in his jump up to stakes competition, holding off Gone Astray by a head to win the $70,000 Coronado's Quest Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Those two pulled away from Endymion, who was 2 1/4 lengths back in third. The time was 1:43.42 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Elvis Trujillo, the leading rider at Monmouth, was aboard for trainer Nick Zito as Our Edge, a son of The Cliff's Edge, made the successful leap from maiden win to a stakes victory.

Using the front-running tactics that brought her victory in the 2008 Obeah Stakes, Unbridled Belle went right to the front again Saturday at Delaware Park, cruising to an 11-length win while defending her crown in the Grade 3, for fillies and mares.

The Obeah serves as the prep for the meet's highlight, the Grade 2, $1 million Delaware Handicap on July 19. Trainer Todd Pletcher said after Saturday's race Unbridled Belle will be pointed to the Del Cap. She won the 2007 Del Cap and was a beaten favorite in last year's renewal.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Icon Project romped in the mud, beating Criticism by 13 1/4 lengths in the off-the-turf for fillies and mares Saturday at Belmont Park.

Hoping against hope, Belmont officials fought to keep the $245,000 New York on the soft grass, even after the other four turf races on the card had been moved to the main track.

But another deluge, four races before the feature, dashed those plans. The New York was shifted to the muddy main track, with the distance shortened one furlong to 1 1/8 miles.

Jockey Chad Beckon, who was seriously injured in a spill last Wednesday night at Woodbine, has made progress and been moved from critical care to intensive care at a Toronto hospital, according to his agent, Tony Esposito.

"He's improved 100 percent over the last 24 hours," Esposito said Saturday afternoon. "He's breathing on his own. He woke up on his own [Friday], which is very good. He's alert and awake."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Julien Leparoux was walking through the paddock runway after riding in the first night race in the 134-year history of Churchill Downs and looked up at the massive crowd.

"It looks like the Dubai World Cup," said Leparoux.

Indeed, amid the almost surreal setting of artificial lighting and a festive crowd estimated at more than 30,000, the first night of racing at Churchill was a success of world-class