BALTIMORE Blind Date's first trip around two turns worked like a charm. Sitting just off pace-setting Listentothewindblo, Blind Date and jockey Jeremy Rose took control at the top of the stretch and comfortably held clear a late run from heavily favored Rena to win the $50,000 Hilltop Stakes.

Trained by Hamilton Smith for owner-breeder William Backer, Blind Date ($8.40) won for the fourth time in a five-start career. She had scored a sharp victory over Maryland-breds in a Pimlico turf-sprint stakes April 18, and ran right back to that performance.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - David Heitzmann has worn a lot of hats throughout his career at the racetrack, and he recently went from racing official to jockey agent for Pat Valenzuela and Colby Hernandez this summer at Louisiana Downs.

While he is no stranger to the agenting business, Heitzmann has been better known as a racing official during the last several years at tracks in the Midwest, including Churchill Downs Inc. properties Arlington Park and Fair Grounds, as well as the home track in Louisville.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer John Simms, who spent the winter at Tampa Bay Downs, has 18 stalls here but hopes to expand that number as the season progresses.

Off to a good start with three wins and a place in four starts, Simms was looking forward to the upcoming weeks at the Fort.

"I have been to a number of tracks over the years and believe that Fort Erie has the best surface for the Thoroughbred," said Simms.

"You'll find many an older horse enjoying a lengthy racing career at the Fort, and that is because the surface is so very kind."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The sun got the best of the morning clouds Friday at Hollywood Park at about the same time Zenyatta got the best of an overmatched workmate in a team drill that sets up the champion mare for her first start of the season on Saturday.

Zenyatta trains late at Hollywood, and it was already 9:30 when she and exercise rider Steve Willard reeled in an unraced maiden in the stretch of a six-furlong workout. The workmate for Zenyatta, Sabina Fay, was in reality nothing more than a target.

BALTIMORE - The scratch of Ashland winner Hooh Why not only took the only Grade 1 winner out of Friday's $150,000 Black-Eyed Susan field, it took the primary speed out of the race as well.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Wesley Ward is looking for another world to conquer. Having dominated the first couple of months of 2-year-old racing in America, the 41-year-old trainer will be sending six horses - five of them 2-year-olds - to run next month in stakes at the prestigious Royal Ascot meet in Great Britain.

"One of the main reasons for going is I don't have a lot of places to run my better 2-year-olds at this time of year," said Ward, who into Friday already had sent out 14 2-year-old winners from 32 starts.

BALTIMORE - Heart Ashley can take the heat. On a warm afternoon Friday at Pimlico, she set torrid fractions, turned back her early pace rivals, and doggedly held on to capture the Grade 3, $100,000 Miss Preakness Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

She was tiring late, but Heart Ashley just did last to win the six-furlong race by a head over Cinderella's Wish, with Trophy Collector a distant third. Heart Ashley was timed in 1:10.79 on the fast main track.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Superior Storm, the Louisiana-bred star who upset Proud Spell in the champion's comeback race in March, is bringing her show to Lone Star Park. Trainer Rick Jackson said Friday that Superior Storm is being pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Handicap on May 25, Memorial Day.

The one-mile turf race for fillies and mares is one of six stakes on the Lone Star Million Day program. The main event is the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.

All Giving ($2.80) kept a parade of chalk in step Friday at Pimlico, roaring past pacesetting What Time It Is in midstretch and bounding clear to a one-length victory in the $50,000 Skipat Stakes for fillies and mares.

Fancy Diamond rallied to be second by a head over Mikeslittlegirl. What Time It Is faded to fourth, followed by Mysterious Bandit. La Chica Rica scratched after winning the Hancock County Handicap on Tuesday night at Mountaineer.

All Giving, a 5-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of Allen's Prospect, won for the 11th time in 31 career starts.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The winners of both stakes races at Hastings last weekend, What R the Odds and Almost Time, are likely headed out of town for their next start. Neither horse is eligible for the next stakes races for 3-year-olds at Hastings, the CTHS Sales Stakes on June 13 for fillies and June 14 for colts and geldings.

Trainer Mel Snow said that What R the Odds will be pointed to the $50,000 Federal Way Handicap on May 24 at Emerald Downs.

Trainer Dino Condilenios was still weighing his options for Almost Time.