LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A strong closing kick in a recent turf workout was the impetus for the connections of Tizdejavu to run in Friday's Grade 3 Crown Royal American Turf Stakes. But it was the 3-year-old colt's early foot that made the difference in him winning the $181,950 race.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - When many people reach their 70s, they take a long and serious look at retiring. At 76, retirement seems to be the furthest thing from trainer Troy Taylor's mind. Instead, he is gearing up to be the leading trainer at Hastings for the second year in a row.

Taylor led the standings with 46 wins from 137 starters in 2007, the second time in his long career that he was the leading trainer here. The last time was in 1963, 45 years ago.

AUBURN, Wash. - By any measure, Wild Cycle had a productive campaign at Emerald Downs last season. He won the Tacoma Handicap, placed in three other stakes, and ran fourth in the Emerald Derby in five starts as a

3-year-old.

It's just that he might have done so much better were it not for a freak accident shortly before last year's meeting began. Rolling in his stall, Wild Cycle managed to strike a front leg with a hind hoof and sever an artery. His life was briefly in danger, and his campaign was put on hold.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - A mix of horses from California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, and Texas are under consideration for the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Derby on May 10, according to local racing officials. The 1 1/16-mile race will share a card with two 3-year-old divisions of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Downs meet that concludes Sunday has been an interesting one from the start. It has produced record-breaking performances, heartwarming comeback stories, and a massively disappointing effort from a superstar who fell from grace here in less time than it takes to go to the fridge for a beer.

The two biggest stories around here this meet are those of leading trainer Jamie Ness and leading jockey Daniel Centeno. Dangerous in their own right, the two were deadly when they teamed up, winning 48 times from 130 starters, a 37 percent clip.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - An old claiming horse named Gravano won the first race on April 17 at Hawthorne. In fact, he couldn't lose, according to the bettors, who made Gravano a crushing 1-2 favorite to beat five rivals in a $4,000 claimer. Gravano delivered, won by six: "Shown whip," reads the official chart comment for his performance.

Afterward, Doug Matthews, who has owned and trained Gravano since summer 2004, showed the horse the door.

"One hundred and three starts," Matthews said. "I wanted him to go out a winner."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Giant Gizmo splashed to a 3 3/ 4-length victory Friday in the Grade 3, $166,050 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs, but the race was marred by the injury suffered by Chelokee, who broke his right front cannon bone in the stretch run.

It was an eerie, almost surreal occurance, because Chelokee, 4, is trained by Michael Matz. Matz trained Barbaro, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby and then broke down two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes. There was Matz, in the mud and rain at Churchill Downs, watching helplessly as Chelokee was loaded onto a horse ambulance.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In a race that, on paper, appeared highly competitive from flagfall to finish, Zee Zee dominated the $168,600 Edgewood Stakes by taking command at once, then gliding home a 1 3/4-length winner over seven other 3-year-old fillies.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bouncing back from arguably the worst performance of her career, Ginger Punch had her Eclipse Award-winning form on display Friday at Churchill Downs when she drew off to an easy 3 3/4-length victory over Leah's Secret in the $340,200 Louisville Stakes.

Although Friday's Grade 3, $126,400 Aegon Turf Sprint at Churchill was contested at five furlongs on turf, it was essentially over at the start. Mr. Nightlinger, the 9-5 favorite, left the gate quickly, shooting straight to the lead, while 3-1 second choice Indian Ashton broke three lengths behind the field.