Roman Emperor was so uncomfortable in Pimlico's enclosed saddling paddock on Saturday that his trainer, Steve Klesaris, took the lead shank and walked the colt to try and calm him down. Once Klesaris took Roman Emperor onto the track, the trainer was relieved.

"He just doesn't like enclosed spaces," Klesaris said after he handed off Roman Emperor to the outrider.

The prerace anxiety melted away minutes later. Roman Emperor, given a heads-up ride by jockey Jeremy Rose, wore down Da' Tara and captured the $100,000 Barbaro Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Heros Reward fought back after being passed in the stretch by True to Tradition to edge that rival in Saturday's $100,000 Old Mutual Turf Sprint Stakes at Pimlico, but he had to withstand claims of foul by the jockeys of the runner-up and third-place finisher to keep his narrow victory.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Sir Gallovic, who edged out True Metropolitan in the Grade 3 Premiers last October, will probably make his 2008 debut in a race that was specifically written to exclude True Metropolitan.

BALTIMORE – Roshani, under John Velazquez, fended off a midstretch challenge from Lady Digby and then withstood a stewards’ inquiry and jockey’s objection to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Gallorette Handicap by a half-length Saturday at Pimlico.

Lady Digby finished second by 4 1/2 lengths over Valbenny. Stormy West and Le Cordon Blue completed the order of finish. Debbie Sue and Saint Pegasus scratched.

Roshani stalked Le Cordon Bleu through pedestrian fractions of 25.41 seconds and 50.28 before taking over midway around the far turn and running three-quarters in 1:15.09.

Starforaday earned his second straight victory following a six-month layoff by rallying to capture the Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

Starforaday ($8.20), the third choice, was last in the five-horse field after a quarter-mile, but closed furiously down the center of the track to reel in Suave Jazz and pacesetter Cognac Kisses nearing the wire. He won by a neck, with Suave Jazz a neck in front of third-place Cognac Kisses, the 6-5 favorite.

BALTIMORE – Although not previously known as being very effective coming from off the pace, Akronism persevered for the length of the stretch and managed to reel in My Sister Sue to win Saturday’s $75,000 Skipat Stakes at Pimlico.

The purse for the Charles Town Invitational Dash has been doubled to $200,000 as part of the newly created Charles Town Sprint Festival.

The event, on Saturday night, June 21, highlights a schedule of eight open stakes worth a cumulative $900,000, announced by the West Virginia track Friday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Crimson Ore's victory in the second race at Churchill Downs on Thursday gave trainer Steve Asmussen his ninth win of the meet, placing him in a three-way tie with Tom Amoss and Ken McPeek for leading trainer honors.

The win marked Asmussen's seventh victory from 18 starters since racing resumed at Churchill after the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

On Sunday he hopes to continue that momentum, starting three horses in the final three races, including morning-line favorites First Degree and Far East Gold in the two allowances on the card, races 8 and 9.

BALTIMORE - When discussing a possible start in May for Sweet Vendetta, co-owner David Cassidy and trainer Gary Contessa at first thought small, examining the Bouwerie Stakes for New York-breds on May 4 at Belmont Park. But then Contessa convinced Cassidy to aim higher. On Friday at Pimlico Race Course, Cassidy probably wanted to tell Contessa, "I think I love you."

Sweet Vendetta, making her first start in a graded stakes race, ran down Shes All Eltish in the final yards to score a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Better Than Bitter, trained by Allen Desruisseaux, ran away and hid opening day at Fort Erie, and Desruisseaux has since added a couple more to the win column in his first full-time year of training.

Desruisseaux, 49, has been involved with horses ever since his first $500 purchase won at first asking back in 1978.

He finally took out his trainer's license last year and immediately proved his potential by sending Better Than Bitter up to Woodbine to score in her debut effort last July.