ELMONT, N.Y. - Zaftig proved she was a talented filly when she blew past Indian Blessing to win the Grade 1 Acorn here on June 7. If she's successful in her next start, Zaftig will prove to be truly something special.

MIAMI - A return trip to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile does not appear to be in the cards for Gottcha Gold, who finished second after setting the pace in the inaugural running of that event last fall at Monmouth Park.

Gottcha Gold recently returned to his old stomping grounds at Calder, where he worked a mile in 1:44.20 on Friday over a fast but still somewhat cuppy racetrack. The work should set him up nicely for the Grade 3 Spend a Buck Handicap here on Oct. 18.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Le Cinquieme Essai, a 9-year-old gelding who earned $1,424,605 in a career that spanned eight seasons and 33 starts, has been retired.

The decision was made after Le Cinquieme Essai, making his third start of the season, finished last of four in an open allowance race over one mile on turf here last Sunday.

"He came out of his race okay," said Paul Nielsen, who trains Le Cinquieme Essai for his owner and breeder, Bill Scott. "He's just lost a step or two, so we're going to call it a day. It's sad when it happens, but you know it's coming."

Presque Isle Downs, the racetrack and casino in Erie, Pa., that opened last year, had all-sources daily average handle of $311,140 for the 101-day meet that ended Sept. 28, according to figures provided by the track.

Total handle was $31,425,213, compared with $14,642,000 during the track's inaugural 25-day meet last year. Average daily all-sources handle for the short meet last year was $585,680.

Ontrack, bettors wagered an average of $39,128 a day. Off-track betting averaged $272,012.

In line with many other North American tracks, handle at the Turfway Park fall meet that ended Thursday night was down substantially, with all-sources handle falling 20 percent from the comparable meet in 2007.

All-sources wagering for the 22-day meet was nearly $42.6 million, down from $53.4 million during last year's meet of the same length. Ontrack wagering totaled $2,642,594, averaging barely more than $100,000 per card. Admission totals are not kept.

The 2008 meet included eight fewer races than 2007 because the Sunday, Sept. 14, program was canceled after two races.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Carona Time has risen from winning a $25,000 maiden claimer in the spring to being competitive in optional claiming races at Del Mar in the summer.

Trainer Dan Hendricks is thinking big for Carona Time in one of two $50,000 starter handicaps on the California Cup card Sunday at Santa Anita. The race will be a test for Carona Time, and his first start over 1 1/2 miles on turf.

"I don't see any reason he couldn't do it," Hendricks said of the distance. "He had three solid races at Del Mar. He's run well every time" this year.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - The Fort Erie racing fraternity suffered a major loss last Saturday when trainer John Wilson died from an apparent heart attack after being kicked by a horse he was saddling at Presque Isle Downs.

Wilson, 88, had been very active during the 2008 racing season with 47 starts at Fort Erie and another 12 starts at Woodbine.

On Monday, jockeys, fellow trainers, and racing fans joined track management in a moment of silence for Wilson. Flags were flown at half-mast.

Trainer Norm Bowles recalled how his friend Wilson first came into racing.

Coming off a strong meeting that included a 22 percent increase in handle on the track's races and its first million-dollar handle day in recent history, Portland Meadows opens its 62nd season Sunday with hopes that it can keep the ball rolling.

"We had a great 2007-08 meet," general manager Will Alempijevic said. "We really just want to keep building on that success."

ARCADIA, Calif. - Change has occurred at the top of the California-bred ranks this year.

With the retirement of Lava Man in July and the tragic death of Nashoba's Key in May, there has been a notable void at the top of the statebred divisions. Without them, there have been no standouts, but numerous horses have displayed strong performances in recent months.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes winner Da' Tara will scratch out of Friday night's Grade 2, $350,000 Meadowlands Cup and instead will run in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park, trainer Nick Zito said Friday morning.

Zito said he didn't like the fact that there was so much speed in the Meadowlands Cup and that Da' Tara figured to be part of a hot early pace. Also, the Jerome affords Da' Tara the opportunity to run against only 3-year-olds one more time.