OCEANPORT, N.J. - If Big Brown does indeed run in the Sept. 13 Monmouth Stakes, as expected, the $200,000 purse jumps to $500,000, a big reason why the race closed Wednesday with 35 nominations. But even with that kind of money on the line there are lots of alternatives for area turf horses, which makes it difficult to zero in on the probable field.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Midshipman and Coronet of a Baron, who finished a nose apart in a thrilling Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Wednesday's closing day, were already safely tucked into their new stalls at Santa Anita on Thursday morning and could face one another twice more in the next seven weeks there, in the Norfolk Stakes on Sept. 28 and then the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 25.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Kip Deville, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, will be the 124-pound highweight and has been made the 6-5 choice for Sunday's 12th running of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

A field of eight was announced for the Woodbine Mile, a turf race for 3-year-olds and upward that offers a purse of $1 million, at the ceremonial draw in the trackside tent here Thursday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Owing to the economy in general and malaise in the tourist industry in the San Diego area specifically, Del Mar officials before the meet expected a drop in business this year, and they were right. But the overall numbers were still encouraging, with the track recording its sixth-highest handle in history, perhaps an indication that bettors were more willing to embrace a Polytrack surface that was far more consistent this year than during its inaugural season of 2007.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The fillies division of the $60,000 CTHS Sales Stakes sets the scene for the annual yearling and mixed sale that will be held by the British Columbia division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society this Tuesday. The 6 1/2-furlong feature for 2-year-old fillies attracted six horses, and it appears to be a wide-open event.

None of the horses entered has won at the distance, and four of the six horses are maidens.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – Saturday’s $25,000 Saskatchewan Derby at Marquis Downs takes on a markedly different feel this year as seven ship-ins arrive to do battle with one local hopeful in what amounts to the most competitive derby field in recent years.

EDMONTON, Alberta – True Metropolitan seeks his third straight Speed to Spare crown at Northlands Park on Saturday and is certain to be sent postward as the overwhelming favorite. The 63rd running of the Speed to Spare, a 1 3/8-mile race worth $100,000, attracted just four older horses.

The reigning Horse of the Year, Curlin, will make his next start in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 27, his majority owner, Jess Jackson, announced on Thursday.

A win in the Jockey Club - a race Curlin won last year - would enable him to surpass Cigar and become Thoroughbred racing's all-time leading money earner. Curlin has earned $9,796,800, just $203,015 behind Cigar's record of $9,999,815.

DEL MAR, Calif. - For seven straight years, from 1996-2002, trainer Bob Baffert captured the Del Mar Futurity. Perhaps he can start a new streak, because on Wednesday, closing day at Del Mar, Baffert won the Grade 1, $250,000 Futurity for a record eighth time when Midshipman got up in the final jump to nose out Coronet of a Baron.

Street Hero was another three-quarters of a length back in third, with 5-2 favorite Southern Exchange fourth in his first start outside of Woodbine. Of the other fancied runners, Believe in Hope was fifth and Kelly Leak 10th in the field of 11.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The legions of the superstitious can say what they want - 13 is a fine, fine number as far as Arlington Park is concerned.

Thirteen horses were entered Wednesday in Saturday's Pucker Up Stakes, which is very good, and 13 more were entered in Saturday's Arlington-Washington Lassie, which is pushing right up on the remarkable. Both races are Grade 3, the Pucker Up with a $200,000 purse, the Lassie worth $150,000. Toss in the 10-horse Honor Glide, a surprisingly strong 3-year-old overnight grass stakes, and Saturday's racing here should be excellent.