SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While her temperature has returned to normal and her blood work shows nothing amiss, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches is only 50-50 to make her next start in the Grade 1 Ruffian at Belmont Park on Sept. 8, trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday.

ERIE, Pa. - Entries were drawn Wednesday for Saturday's inaugural card at Presque Isle Downs, and even though eight races came together, business at the entry box may not have been as brisk as expected since the meet will be giving away a staggering $500,000 a day in purses.

Jockey Melissa Polkey is on the biggest hot streak of her career.

Between Aug. 20-26, Polkey won 4 races from 20 mounts at Thistledown, giving her 19 wins for the meet, which began April 12.

That might not sound like much, but it's a giant step for Polkey, 36, who accepted her first mount in 1989.

"My paycheck last week was the biggest one that I every got," she said proudly.

Polkey will put that money to good use. She has three children, who travel with her wherever she is riding.

With three weeks left in the season, the Prairie Meadows jockey colony took a hit when both Terry Thompson and Cesar Torres packed their tack and headed for Hoosier Park. Thompson was the leading jockey at this year's Thoroughbred meet and is in a logjam of riders tied for second at the mixed meet with 20 wins, six behind Glenn Corbett.

Corbett, plans to stay though the end of the meet before heading to Turf Paradise to begin defense of his riding title there.

Hot Chili found room along the rail on the far turn and rallied sharply to win the $50,000 Little Ones Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths over Native Britches and seven other Michigan-bred colts and geldings Tuesday at Great Lakes Downs. Hot Chili, a 2-year-old Daylight Savings colt, is now 2 or 3. He is owned by Sharon Valley Thoroughbred Farm and trained by Laura Jackson.

Jockey Jareth Loveberry notched his first stakes win aboard Hot Chili, who won his maiden here July 24 with Loveberry aboard.

With this meet set to conclude Monday evening, Curt Bourque has the riding title all but wrapped up as he began the final week with an 87-72 advantage over fellow south Louisiana native Gerard Melancon.

On the conditioner's side, perennial champ Keith Bourgeois is on his way to yet another title as he has sent out 66 winners. Sam Breaux also has enjoyed a solid meeting with 53 victories.

AUBURN, Wash. - This year's 70th renewal of the $100,000 Emerald Derby, which will be run on Monday for a purse of $100,000, is shaping up to be among the best ever. The list of 14 nominees includes a worthy California invader in Leesider, winner of the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, plus Canadian shipper Sir Gallovic, an impressive winner last time out at Hastings Park. Set to defend the local honor are stakes winners Call on Carson, Wild Cycle, and Mulcahy, plus the undefeated and untested Song of Pirates.

Jockey Derek Bell is ending this season's Canterbury Park meeting on far better terms than when the 68-day stand began. When Bell arrived here in April, it was unclear whether track management would allow him to compete at this meeting as he was one of seven riders who had been banned from Tampa Bay Downs following an investigation into alleged race-fixing. No charges have ever been filed as a result of that investigation, which is ongoing.

When Special West finished second at 31-1 in the final race Monday night at Columbus he, unbelievably, had no money wagered on him to show.

El Cyclone, the 5-2 favorite in the field of nine, won the race and returned $7.20 to win, $7 to place, and $5.60 to show. Special West paid $83.20 and $0. Third-place finisher Poor Davey paid $6.40.

Because no money was wagered to show on Special West, El Cyclone and Poor Davey split the entire show pool. The portable toteboard at Columbus, which is mounted on a semi trailer, shows only win odds and not pool totals.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Saturday's $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine is proving to be a popular offering, as 15 3-year-old fillies flooded the entry box for the one-mile turf race.

Three of the entrants are trained by Roger Attfield - Red Birkin, Sans Souci Island, and Callwood Dancer.

"They all have different owners," Attfield said. "They all deserve a chance to run for them."

Red Birkin, owned and bred Haras Santa Maria de Araras, is the most accomplished of the three.