SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Dallas Stewart doesn't plan to do a whole lot with Jim Dandy winner Macho Again between now and the Travers, but on Friday he worked the 3-year-old an easy half-mile in 50.19 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.

With the former jockey Ken Bourque in the irons, Macho Again went his first quarter in 25.27 seconds and his second quarter in 24.92 seconds over a fast training track.

"Worked fine, he was getting over the ground good and clean, no problems,'' Stewart said. "He came back good, wasn't blowing much.''

AUBURN, Wash. - Sunday's Strong Ruler Stakes, like the Knights Choice Stakes on Saturday, is a highly restricted affair. To be eligible, a horse must be nominated to the Northwest Race Series. He must also be by a stallion whose progeny were made eligible with a payment in the year of his birth.

Because it is doubly restricted, the Strong Ruler is in some years almost irrelevant to the open 2-year-old division at Emerald Downs. This, however, doesn't appear to be one of those years.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Our Friend Harvey has two wins and a second in three grass sprints at Monmouth Park. He has been less successful in similar races at Gulfstream, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.

His record on the Monmouth course makes him a top contender Sunday in the $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes at 5o1/2 furlongs.

Our Friend Harvey is a closing sprinter who usually gets his trip here.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A controlling interest in Plan, who was to race here Saturday in the Secretariat Stakes, was purchased earlier this week from Michael Tabor by the IEAH Stables. After the Secretariat, the colt will remain in the United States, and will be turned over to trainer Rick Dutrow, IEAH co-president Michael Iavarone said Friday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Out of Control, second in two Grade 1 races on turf earlier this year, will make his Grade 1 debut on the main track in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 24, trainer Bobby Frankel said Friday.

Out of Control's presence will give Frankel two starters in the Pacific Classic. He is also running Mast Track, the upset winner of the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on Juneo28.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Skipped Bail may have found the spot for his first stakes victory here at Woodbine in Sunday's $100,000 With Approval.

The With Approval, a 1 1/8-mile overnight turf stakes, attracted a field of seven, including high-profile names such as Mike Fox and Marchfield.

Jockey E.J. Perrodin's nine-month road to recovery ends on Sunday. He will return to the saddle in the seventh race at Louisiana Downs, his first mount since a frightening riding accident last winter that left him with a severely fractured pelvis, six broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a lacerated spleen.

AUBURN, Wash. – Burgundy Road and Enumerator head a field of five 2-year-olds in Sunday’s $50,000 Strong Ruler Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Burgundy Road is the only maiden special weight winner in the field and may be a slight choice in the wagering, especially because he was more fortunate at the draw for posts. Burgundy Road will start from post 3 and Enumerator will break from the inside, a post that contributed to a rough trip for him in the six-furlong Premio Esmeralda on July 19.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bucephalus and El Brujo, the top two finishers in the July 5 Clarendon Stakes, will lock horns again Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Vandal, a six-furlong stakes for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds.

Bucephalus, an $80,000 yearling purchase by Knob Hill Stable, finished second in his five-furlong debut behind Dryden, who subsequently ran second in the Colin Stakes. Bucephalus won his maiden in style in the 5 1/2-furlong Clarendon, registering a respectable 76 Beyer Figure. Trainer Kevin Attard said the colt ran to his expectations that day.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - A competitive field of 11 will go to post in the $27,500 Don Valliere Memorial Cup, the Sunday Fort Erie feature. For 3-year-olds and up, the six-furlong Valliere is restricted to horses who have made two starts at the meeting. The 11 runners entered are all geldings.

A number of the entrants have good speed and there is a good chance that a hot pace will develop.