DEL MAR, Calif. - Four months ago, Santa Anita's winter meeting ended. Since then, hockey season ended. Basketball season ended. And trainer Bruce Headley stopped winning.

Whether on Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, or Polytrack at Del Mar, Headley has not won a race since April 13. He has had plenty of seconds, too many for his taste. Headley is hoping to end his inglorious streak no later than Sunday, when he sends out Arson Squad in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic and Surf Cat in the Grade 2, $300,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap.

AUBURN, Wash. - Last weekend's twin 6 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds were superficially similar. Both No Constraints in Saturday's Knights Choice Stakes for fillies and Margo's Gift in Sunday's Strong Ruler Stakes for colts and geldings were heavily favored, and both asserted their superiority through the stretch after attending the early pace.

The winners of the two $45,000 stakes could hardly be more different, however.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Last weekend's Monmouth Oaks probably would have been an easier spot for Moon Catcher than this Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

But what's the fun in taking the easy way out? And considering how much fun trainer Tim Ritchey and owner Chuck Zacney had in Saratoga three summers ago, the Alabama became the only realistic goal for Moon Catcher.

AUBURN, Wash. - The Grade 3 Longacres Mile, which will be renewed for the 72nd time Sunday with a record purse of $400,000, is the heart and soul of Northwest racing. It is the highlight of every local racing season, the race that everybody here wants to win.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Abraham Katryan has been on a roll again lately, sending out 4 winners from 8 starters last week to take over third place in the trainer standings with 32 winners heading into Wednesday's program at Woodbine.

But one thing that would make Katryan's season even sweeter is a stakes winner, and Sheer Enchantment will be looking to give him just that in Sunday's $125,000 Victoriana.

A 6-year-old owned by Glenn Harvey's Kelynack Racing Stable, Sheer Enchantment began her career with Katryan but was transferred last year to trainer Paul Attard.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Steve Asmussen said he was never planning to run Curlin in the Travers. But on Monday, he removed all doubt saying that the Preakness winner will make his next start in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 30.

After watching Tiz Wonderful breeze six furlongs in 1:14.22 Monday morning, Asmussen said that horse would run in the Travers.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Sunday's card at Del Mar is highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic, but there are two other graded stakes on the program, and all three races are part of the "Win and You're in" series for the Breeders' Cup in October at Monmouth Park.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - And just as quickly, everyone went home.

That's one of the things about Arlington Million Day - it's the rare starter in one of the local Grade 1 turf races who actually is locally based, and by the Monday after Million Day, almost all the participants have scattered to the wind.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Papi Chullo will likely make his first appearance at Monmouth Park in more than two years on Saturday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes.

The 5-year-old's only prior effort on the Jersey Shore came in the 2005 Haskell Invitational, where he ran with the early leaders before finishing 12 1/4 lengths behind Roman Ruler.

The gray horse has changed barns several times since then and came to hand at Belmont Park this spring with a pair of impressive wins for trainer Gary Contessa that produced triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

Scary Bob ($7.80) outdueled 4-5 favorite Pinky Freud for the early lead and pulled clear to post a 2 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap for New York-bred sprinters at Finger Lakes.