The landscape of Northern California racing will change yet again if Golden Gate Fields, the circuit's lone remaining major racetrack, changes hands this summer. The process of the track's owner, Magna Entertainment Corp., possibly selling Golden Gate takes a step forward April 3, when a court hearing will define the bidding process for the track, according to Golden Gate's general manager, Robert Hartman.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Silver City will step off the Kentucky Derby trail and point for the Derby Trial next month at Churchill Downs following his recent fifth-place finish in the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

"At this point in time we have decided to keep him around one turn for a while," said Bret Calhoun, who trains Silver City for Clarence Scharbauer Jr.

Key's Band, making his first start for new trainer J.R. Gonzalez Jr. since being claimed for $40,000 late last year, controlled the pace throughout and set a track record in Saturday's Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap at Sunland Park. Chaco Latte chased the winner in vain throughout and settled for second, followed by 6-5 favorite Z. Z. Dome and 121-pound highweight Gulchrunssweet.

Under clever handling from Miguel Perez, 12-1 outsider Let the Musicbegin collared early pacesetter Bullish Liz turning for home and went on to a half-length win in Sunday's $100,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap at Sunland Park. Bullish Liz gave ground grudgingly to the winner and was almost six lengths clear of another longshot, Treading Water. Odds-on favorite La Sorpresa finished fourth.

"There was a slow pace," Perez said in the winner's circle. "I tried to find a hole between horses. When I had a chance, she started to gun for it."

FLORENCE, Ky. - Better late than never. Hold Me Back, scarcely mentioned, if at all, in the Kentucky Derby discussion, ran himself right into contention with a sensational rally making his 3-year-old debut Saturday in the 38th running of the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes, the annual showcase event at Turfway Park.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Stroll By ran her streak to three straight wins by taking her stakes debut in Saturday's $15,600 Pepsi Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and Fonner Park.

Stroll By ($5) was just off the early pace set by Spank Me Happy, challenged that one into the far turn of the six-furlong race and gamely dueled through the final quarter-mile to post a one-length victory in 1:13.40 over a fast track. Spank Me Happy gave ground grudgingly to hold second, some 8 1/2 lengths in front of third place finisher I'mamaroongirl.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A change in tactics proved beneficial on Sunday for Belmont Cat, who responded to a waiting ride from Joel Rosario to get up in time and capture the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap for female turf horses at Santa Anita.

Belmont Cat ($20.40) prevailed in a thrilling four-horse finish. She beat an unlucky Bel Air Sizzle by a head, with odds-on favorite Visit another neck back in third, a head in front of Satan's Circus. In My Glory, Sharp Susan, and Exquisite completed the order of finish.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Daughters of Medaglia d'Oro keep turning in big performances this meet at Oaklawn Park. First it was Rachel Alexandra, who won last month's $50,000 Martha Washington in stakes record time. Sunday, the stallion's big winner was She's Our Annie, who equaled the stakes record in the $50,000 Prima Donna, when she won the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies in 1:09.03.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Allowed to set his own pace in a short field, Midships was impossible to catch in Saturday's $150,000 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita.

Midships ($7.20) led by a length for the first mile under jockey Victor Espinoza through modest fractions of 24.22 and 48.53 seconds, and scooted clear in early stretch to win the Grade 2 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf by 1 3/4 lengths. Midships was timed in 2:25.63.

"I was real confident with how he was running the whole way," Espinoza said. "He was running very easily."

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Silver Edition and Red Hot N Gold finished in a dead heat for the win in the $50,000 Hot Springs on Saturday, while 4-5 favorite Semaphore Man was fourth in the race, the final local prep for the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap here April 10.

Secretintelligence finished third in the Hot Springs, 1 1/2 lengths behind Silver Edition and Red Hot N Gold.