LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Six weeks earlier, Pyro was a virtual no-show in the 134th Kentucky Derby. But in his first start since running eighth in the Derby, Pyro was back in a big way Saturday - getting a perfect trip under Shaun Bridgmohan and drawing off to a 1 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 3 Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Sitting a pretty third for much of the 1 1/16-mile race, Pyro angled out for the drive, overtook Texas Wildcatter and My Pal Charlie, shrugged off an outside bid from Visionaire, and put a smile back on trainer Steve Asmussen's face.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A week later, here came the cheers. Curlin romped to a popular 4 1/4-length victory Saturday in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs, at least partly lifting the spirits of racing fans bitterly disappointed a week beforehand by Big Brown's foiled Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes.

Stalking the early pace under confident handling by John Jacinto, favored Superior Storm ($4.60) overpowered her rivals though the stretch to win Friday night's $60,000 Salute Stakes over fellow Louisiana-bred 3-year-old-fillies at Evangeline Downs.

The longshot Miss Dixie Doodle finished 5 1/4 lengths back in second, followed by Amiabandit. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.82 over a track labeled fast.

London Snow ($11.70) overtook Only If Split at the sixteenth pole en route to a two-length score in the $126,200 Ballade Stakes at Woodbine.

Steve Bahen had London Snow reserved well off the pace in the six-furlong sprint, as Only If Split set fractions of 22.38 and 45.33 seconds while being stalked by the lukewarm favorite, Shot Gun Ela.

Frisky Thunder ($5.20) successfully shortened up from 1 1/8 miles to 5 1/2 furlongs for the $60,000 John D. Marsh Stakes at Colonial Downs.

Ridden by Eric Camacho for trainer James Murphy, the 4-year-old Frisky Thunder made a three-wide move entering the turn and rolled to a 5 1/4-length win in the race restricted to 3- and 4-year-old Virginia-breds. A son of Thunder Rumble, Frisky Thunder has now won 4 of 8 starts on grass. He covered the distance in 1:03.07.

True Blue Fingers was second at 11-1, a length in front of Researcher.

Dulce Realidad did what she does almost always - win. But she it in a different way on Saturday at Philadelphia Park. A pacesetter in all four of her previous races, Dulce Realidad responded favorably to rating tactics, sitting third behind the two early pacesetters before taking command midway around the turn, and going on to a three-quarter-length victory in the $194,000 Jostle Stakes.

Social Queen uncorked her usual strong rally to ease past Chestoria by a neck and win the Grade 3, $150,000 Eatontown Stakes for fillies and mares Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Social Queen, with Jose Lezcano aboard, improved her record to 4 for 5 on Monmouth's turf course.

In her season debut, the 4-year-old Social Queen won the Politely Stakes here with a similar rally on May 26. Trainer Alan Goldberg would have preferred more time between starts but Social Queen's excellence on the course, and the chance to take home the meet's first graded stakes, was irresistible.

MIAMI - Rockerfeller completed a memorable afternoon for trainer Marty Wolfson with a dominant performance in the $100,000 Ponche Handicap, rallying from off the pace to a seven-length decision over longshot How's Your Halo in the highlight of Saturday's Summit of Speed Preview card at Calder.

Rockerfeller's victory was the third stakes win on the day for Wolfson, who earlier captured the $100,000 Unbridled with Golden Spikes and the $100,000 U Can Do It Handicap with Dixie Dreamer.

MIAMI - Who is the fastest 2-year-old colt or gelding in south Florida in the second week of June?

That question figures to be answered late Sunday afternoon when several of the more impressive juvenile maiden-race winners during the opening seven weeks of the meet square off in the $36,000 B L's Sweep Stakes.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Rob Gilker has had a lot of success getting horses to stretch out. A horse he claimed for $4,000, Colonial Secretary, went on to win multiple marathon races, and he also upset Lord Nelson in the Sir Winston Churchill Stakes in 2001. Last year Gilker was able to teach Newton John how to harness his very good speed. Not only did Newton John, who is a confirmed front-runner, win an $8,000 starter race going 1 3/8 miles, he also finished third behind Sir Gallovic and True Metropolitan in the Grade 3 Premiers at that distance.