Maryland-based mare La Chica Rica ($3.80) continued her success shipping to West Virginia when she won her third straight race on the road in Tuesday night's $75,000 Hancock County Handicap at Mountaineer Racetrack.

The 5-year-old La Chica Rica, trained by Crystal Pickett, led throughout the five-furlong sprint for fillies and mares and was hand-ridden to the wire by jockey Deshawn Parker while finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 5-2 second choice Pola's Place. The winner covered the distance on a fast track in 58.14 seconds.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - At age 5, Brother Derek was a fresh horse poised to play a key role in the handicap division this summer at Hollywood Park. But after one promising race, the 2006 Santa Anita Derby winner is sidelined again.

Brother Derek has not returned to the track since a runner-up comeback April 20 at Santa Anita, where he is stabled.

"His quarter crack opened up again, and I totally backed off," trainer Dan Hendricks said Tuesday.

It is not the first time the foot has given Brother Derek trouble.

NGLEWOOD, Calif. - Want the winner of the first leg of the pick six Thursday at Hollywood Park? Race 3 is a 4 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old maiden fillies, and how tough could it be?

True, all eight entrants are first-time starters. But relevant clues are in all the obvious places. Just look for a filly with quick workouts, a precocious pedigree, from a stable that wins first out. Then either press the "all" button or single a potential standout.

MIAMI - With the Triple Crown now in the rear-view mirror, Smooth Air is ready to begin the rest of his 3-year-old campaign, a second season that may begin May 31 in Thistledown's Grade 2 Ohio Derby.

Smooth Air returned from Churchill Downs none the worse for wear from his 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He had his chances compromised right off the bat when he broke into the air and then checked a couple of times during the long run to the clubhouse turn.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - El Gato Malo opened some new doors for himself last Saturday at Lone Star Park, when he rallied for a half-length win over Leonides in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Derby. The race was his first on dirt after running exclusively on synthetic tracks in California. It was also the first time he shipped out of state, his first start in blinkers, and he caught temperatures in the 90s in Texas.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Ten-pound apprentice rider Brandon Meier made his career debut in the fourth race last Sunday at Arlington Park. Meier was giving up mountains of experience to the other jockeys in the race, and he even wound up - through no fault of his own - getting into a seriously tough spot about a half-mile from the finish line. But those impediments were no match for the force of nature in young Meier's corner - trainer Wayne Catalano.

A pair of 3-year-old fillies shipping in from out of state attracted the most betting money, but locally based Dulce Realidad dominated Tuesday's $75,000 Trevose Stakes at Philadelphia Park.

After dueling with the 2-1 second choice, Phantom Income, through a half-mile in 45.19 seconds, Dulce Realidad ($13.40) took command midway on the turn and drew clear to win the 6 1/2-furlong Trevose by four lengths under jockey Jose Flores.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Although two weeks of fair racing is scheduled there for Aug. 6-17, for most people, the Bay Meadows era ended Sunday with the final day of the spring meet.

Appropriately for jockey Russell Baze, who has won more races than any other rider at Bay Meadows - called Baze Meadows by some - what may have been his last ride at the track resulted in a victory, giving him 130 for the meeting and his 40th Bay Meadows riding championship.

Baze will be in England this summer during the Bay Meadows Fair, competing in an international jockey competition.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - On the Acorn, the surprise winner of Saturday's Grade 2 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park, may have earned a mini-vacation after his upset win.

Trainer Mike Mitchell is debating how often to run the 7-year-old gelding this summer. On Sunday, he was considering the $150,000 Sunset Handicap over 1o1/2 miles on turf on July 13, the final day of the current spring-summer meeting, or the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 23.

Deputy's Whirl ($12.80) earned her second straight stakes win of the season with a 2 1/4 length victory in the $16,350 Princess Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Lincoln on Sunday afternoon.

With apprentice Chris Fackler aboard, Deputy's Whirl shook off a backstretch duel with Annadacious to draw clear in 1:16.40 for six furlongs over a track labeled good. Deputy's Whirl had previously given Fackler his first career stakes win at Fonner Park in the Special Stakes on April 19 for owner/trainer Bob Rising.