ELMONT, N.Y. - IEAH Stables and trainer Rick Dutrow, the connections of Big Brown, enjoyed an auspicious beginning to their stakes action Saturday at steamy Belmont Park when Benny the Bull got up in the final strides under Edgar Prado to win the $250,000 True North Handicap.

Benny the Bull, the top-ranked sprinter in the country and the 1-2 favorite off consecutive victories in the Grade 1 De Francis Dash, the Sunshine Millions Sprint, and the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, tracked along in fifth place early as Man of Danger carved out fractions of 22.06 seconds and 44.98.

AUBURN, Wash. - When Victorina contests the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Handicap on Sunday, she can lay claim to being the most accomplished filly or mare sprinter to compete at Emerald Downs since Ema Bovary won the same race in 2003.

NetJets Inc., the private aviation company, and the jockeys riding in the Belmont Stakes will donate a combined $75,000 to be split between two charities based at Belmont Park

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Del Mar is making a retroactive purse payment of approximately $126,000 to owners whose horses earn purses in overnight races at the 2007 meeting, and it will carry a positive balance of $400,000 for purses at its upcoming meeting, track officials said Thursday.

ALBANY, Calif. - Locally based trainers Greg Gilchrist and John Martin have only one concern about Sunday's $75,000 Yerba Buena Handicap at Golden Gate Fields - the 1 3/8-mile distance of the turf stakes.

"That's one thing we'll find out," said Gilchrist, whose Wild Promises is coming off her first stakes victory in the May 11 Mother's Day Handicap at Bay Meadows. "The one thing is they usually go pretty easily early."

Wild Promises, who has 6 wins, 5 seconds, and a third in 12 career starts, has never raced farther than 1 1/16 miles.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Delosvientos took command soon after the start and widened to a sizable enough advantage down the stretch to hold Evening Attire safe in the 120th running of the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap, the highlight of the Friday card at Belmont Park.

With Eibar Coa riding for owner-trainer Giuseppe Iadisernia, Delosvientos posted his first graded stakes victory when returning $6.60 as the second choice in the Brooklyn, which New York Racing Association officials this year decided to extend back to 1 1/2 miles for the first time since 1990.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Woodford Reserve winner, Einstein, who was not entered in Saturday's Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park because of a licensing issue involving one of his owners, is "50-50" to run in next Saturday's $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs, trainer Helen Pitts said.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The impact of Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court decision that could put $79 million in casino revenue in the hands of the state's racetracks and horsemen was still rippling through the industry Friday. And while no one doubts the cash infusion would represent a boon for the industry, it remains uncertain whether the money racing could receive will be a short-term fix or a long-term pipeline and how the money marked for purse increases will be distributed.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Midway through her first campaign, Initforreal made three starts in the $32,000 to $40,000 claiming range.

On Sunday, Initforreal is in with a chance in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the year's premier event for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

"She's coming to the race in great order," said Arthur Silvera, who trains Initforreal for David Rowbotham and partners. "I always did like this filly. I was let down after her first few races."

Silvera blames himself for Initforreal's early struggles.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer Tony Alderson has a special relationship with the 9-year-old gelding Sandspit, whom he has trained since 2002.

The old warrior won his eighth race for Alderson last Sunday, a $7,500 claiming event over the Fort Erie turf course. The win brought smiles and backslaps all around from friends and family.