Paying Off enjoyed a return to dirt in the $50,000 Twixt Stakes at Laurel, winning the one-mile race for Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies by a length.

Paying Off, owned by Morgan Wayson Jr. and trained by John Robb, had finished last of six on the Pimlico turf in the Pearl Necklace last out. In the Twixt, she took advantage of a speed duel to rally from seventh under Oliver Castillo and defeat runner-up Welcome Inn, with 4-5 favorite Ethan's Car another 3 3/4 lengths back in third.

Paying Off, a Malibu Moon filly, ran the mile in 1:41.08 and returned $14.60.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bear Now returned to her dominant ways here at Woodbine on Saturday, romping to a 6 1/4-length victory over fellow 3-year-old fillies in the $159,300 Duchess at seven furlongs.

Trained by Reade Baker, Bear Now had finished fourth last time out in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Delaware Oaks, but before that had won consecutive 1 1/16-mile stakes at Woodbine.

Any concerns about Bear Now cutting back in distance were dispelled shortly after the start as she assumed command under new rider Jerry Baird.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A handicap division in search of reinforcements may have found one in Minister's Bid, who beat a stakes-caliber field in a classified allowance race Friday at Saratoga.

The win was the third straight for Minister's Bid and fifth from seven career starts for the 4-year-old son of Deputy Minister, who cost $750,000 as a 2-year-old. He is now likely headed to stakes action as his connections contemplate a possible run at the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Little had gone right for Grand Couturier since the day he arrived in North America last summer: Troubled trips in races, training over surfaces he didn't like, or running at distances that were too short for him.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Paulo Lobo has a succinct recollection of Molengao's fourth-place finish in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30.

"It was a horrible day for me," Lobo said. "I expected a much better race for him. When I was in the paddock saddling him, he wasn't the same horse. He was a little quiet that day."

MIAMI - On a day full of surprises, Dead Red pulled off the biggest shocker of them all when he ran down the nationally ranked sprinter Mach Ride in late stretch to post a three-quarter-length decision in Calder's $250,000 Turf Sprint Championship Handicap on Saturday.

Dead Red, a former $12,500 claimer, paid $143.20 while giving trainer George Mikhalides his first stakes victory in the United States and jockey Ray Fuentes the first stakes win of his career.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Rene Douglas long has been the top jockey at Arlington Park, but when many of the world's top riders came to town for the International Festival of Racing, he has played second fiddle. So after Douglas gave Royal Highness a textbook ride Saturday to narrowly win the Grade 1 Beverly D., his kiss to the crowd and his wave of the whip shortly after he passed the wire carried added emphasis.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The French horse Shamdinan came to the Secretariat Stakes a virtual unknown to Thoroughbred people in the U.S., jockey Julien Leparoux included. But the instructions Leparoux got before the Secretariat were quite simple.

"They said, 'Ride her like you rode Gorella,' " Leparoux said.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - After Market, the morning-line favorite for the Arlington Million, was scratched Saturday morning because of course conditions deemed unsuitable by his connections, owner Martin Wygod and trainer John Shirreffs.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - The $25,000 Don Valliere Memorial Cup tops the eight-race Sunday card at Fort Erie. The six-furlong Valliere Memorial is a restricted race for 3-year-olds and up who have started at least twice at Fort Erie this year.

Eleven horses will go to post, including the entry of Charlie O and Abitquick from the Martin Hinckson barn. Regina Sealock was named on both at draw time.