Maryland's racetracks and its horsemen have reached agreements with three large national account-wagering companies that resolve issues that had threatened to put a stop to betting by account-wagering customers in the state, according to track and horsemen officials.

Alan Foreman, legal counsel for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said the agreements with twinspires.com, XpressBet, and Youbet.com will run through 2010 after being resolved Tuesday. Foreman would not offer specifics, other than the expiration date.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Carlsbad, the undefeated 3-year-old filly and four-time stakes winner, is likely to start in a $100,000 sprint stakes in early May. The venue remained uncertain as of Tuesday.

Trainer Jeff Mullins said Carlsbad is a candidate for two Grade 3 races - the Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2 or the Railbird Stakes over seven furlongs at Hollywood Park on May 9.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - If Southern California-invader Papa Clem runs a big race Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita is going to look like the king of this year's Triple Crown prep races. Pioneerof the Nile won the Feb. 7 stakes at Santa Anita by a half-length over Papa Clem, while it was another length back in third to I Want Revenge.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Every so often, a serious horse comes along late to crash the Kentucky Derby party.

He's the horse that some futures bettors can't precisely pinpoint but are relying on as their "all others" pick in February and March. In the last 10 years, Derby winners Charismatic and War Emblem were the prototypes, the ones that seemingly came from nowhere to ultimately defeat horses who had been all the rage on the long Derby trail.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Imperial Council may have proven to be his own worst enemy in Saturday's Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, acting up terribly before the race, in part leading to his fifth-place finish that left him off the Kentucky Derby trail.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Eibar Coa packed his tack at the conclusion of Sunday's Gulfstream Park program in preparation for his return to New York Wednesday at Aqueduct. Coa will leave town following a roller-coaster week that began with his disqualification aboard Big Drama in Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Swale on March 28 and ended last Saturday in the Hawthorne winner's circle with the Kentucky Derby-bound Musket Man after an impressive triumph in the Illinois Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Old Fashioned and Danger to Society both worked Monday at Oaklawn Park for Saturday's Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race will close out the Oaklawn season, and as of Monday there were eight to nine probables following the defection of Wise Kid. Entries for the Arkansas Derby are to be taken Wednesday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Theregoesjojo will run back just two weeks after finishing third to Quality Road and Dunkirk in the Florida Derby when he becomes part of a sizable field likely to clash Saturday in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Trainer Ken McPeek said he had numerous reasons to buck convention by wheeling back so quickly.

Southern California-based trainer Ben Cecil had such a good time with his invasion of Golden Gate Fields last weekend that he is already planning to return. Cecil captured an allowance race on Friday with Ferneley, who is now being pointed to the Grade 2, $300,000 San Francisco Mile on April 25. Saturday, Cecil won the $75,000 Yerba Buena Stakes with Restless Soul.

Ferneley, a Group 3 winner in his native Ireland, rallied from last to win the one-mile turf race by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:35.96. Yacht Spotter was second, with favored Bold Chieftain third.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The Kentucky Derby hopes for Mr. Hot Stuff essentially ended with a third-place finish in Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Mr. Hot Stuff has $114,000 in graded stakes earnings, which leaves him 23rd among Derby prospects. If more than 20 horses enter, the field for the Kentucky Derby is determined by graded stakes earnings.

"If he gets in, we'll give it a shot," trainer Eoin Harty said. "If he doesn't get in, he doesn't get in. I'd love to see what he could do over a mile and a quarter with a legitimate pace."