Orphan Brigade has two key factors in his favor Sunday when he starts in the $55,000 Lea County Stakes at Zia Park. One, he draws a more tactical post than he did in his previous start. He also drops in class after finishing fifth from the rail in the $150,000 Premier Breeders' Cup here. For the Lea County, Orphan Brigade gets gate No. 6.

"I think he did draw a favorable post," said Bret Calhoun, who trains Orphan Brigade for Carl Moore. "I like the field we're in with, and I like the post position draw."

STICKNEY, Ill. - The wins are piling up for the Wayne Catalano barn this week. He was 4 for 4 at Hawthorne on Wednesday and Thursday, with another victory at Churchill Downs, giving him five in a row.

But we're talking claiming wins here, and the overall quality of the Catalano stable has dropped considerably in recent weeks. Dreaming of Anna was retired after the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, and her older brother Lewis Michael went off to stud following a disappointing performance in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.

MIAMI - Smooth Air, who concluded his successful 3-year-old campaign with a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, boarded a van from Calder bound for Ocala, Fla., on Friday morning and a month of rest and relaxation on the farm.

Trainer Benny Stutts Jr. confirmed that Smooth Air will race again as a 4-year-old, with his return likely to come in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in late January.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Kevin Attard had a Sovereign Award winner in each of his first two years as private trainer for Knob Hill Stable. Leonnatus Anteas was the champion 2-year-old male in 2006, and Alezzandro picked up the torch last year by edging his stablemate for the 3-year-old male title.

And, while the championship bubble burst this season, Attard still had a pair of stakes winners in Nicki Knew and Bucephalus.

"Heading in, I thought we had some strong possibilities," said Attard, who will turn 33 next month. "But, it was just kind of one of those years."

NEW BOSTON, Mich. - In a dismal investment environment of falling stock prices, shrinking interest rates on savings, and record real estate foreclosures, it does not seem like a great plan for your money: Build a Thoroughbred racetrack on a marsh in a state with a collapsing manufacturing base and the highest unemployment rate in the nation.

The Quarter Horse Stolis Winner, winner of the $1.9 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in his last start Sept. 1, tested positive for caffeine following that race, according to an article in the Albuquerque Journal. The $1 million winner's share of the purse was paid out more than 30 days ago, Heath Taylor, who trains Stolis Winner, told Daily Racing Form on Thursday.

"At this particular time, I have not been made aware officially of a positive test on Stolis Winner for caffeine," Taylor said Thursday.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A contract dispute between the Thoroughbred Owners of California and four account wagering providers over revenue distribution showed no signs of ending on Thursday, leaving many out-of-state bettors unable to bet on Hollywood Park races for the second consecutive day via the Internet or telephone.

The four account wagering providers are TVG, Twinspires.com, XpressBet and Youbet.com. Other account-wagering companies were not affected.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Hello Broadway wilted under the bright spotlight of the Grade 1 Champagne last month. Sunday, he will try to make amends when he runs back in an interesting renewal of the Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct.

A half-brother to Nobiz Like Shobiz, Hello Broadway was a gritty neck winner of a seven-furlong maiden race at Saratoga, beating next-out winner Imperial Council. Hello Broadway jumped right into the Champagne, where he finished fifth, 9 1/2 lengths behind Vineyard Haven.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Rob Gilker was glad jockeys Frank Fuentes and Dave Wilson weren't listening that closely when he gave them prerace instructions prior to the Fantasy and Ascot Graduation stakes last weekend at Hastings.

Gilker instructed both Fuentes, who rode Fashionable Affair in the $108,138 Fantasy on Saturday, and Wilson, who was aboard Tommy Danzigger, in the $107,674 Ascot on Sunday, to have their horses on or near the lead.

As it turned out, both Fashionable Affair and Tommy Danzigger came from well off the pace to score upsets.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Desert Code, the upset winner of the inaugural $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, may go after another seven-figure turf sprint this fall - the $1.54 million Hong Kong Sprint on Dec. 14.

Trainer David Hofmans said he is strongly considering sending Desert Code to the Far East for the Hong Kong Sprint, which is run over 1,200 meters, or about six furlongs on turf.

"There is nothing else for him," Hofmans said. "It's either this or wait until Santa Anita."