DEL MAR, Calif. - Designed for Luck was never supposed to get this far, racing at the age of 10 in an $80,000 optional claimer at Del Mar on Friday.

Plagued by injuries throughout his career, Designed for Luck is running for the first time since finishing second in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile in October 2005. This is his third comeback. He suffered a hock injury in 2002, a suspensory injury in 2004, and an injury to a hind leg in December 2005.

"Three times he was retired," trainer Vladimir Cerin said.

Oaklawn Park has established a simulcast players reward program that is an extension of the rewards program the track has in place for patrons of its electronic gaming. The program is called the Winner's Circle Club.

By swiping a card when making a bet, horseplayers will build points based on play. The points can be redeemed for cash, prizes, and coupons at a redemption center located in Oaklawn's electronic gaming room. There are also promotions, giveaways, and drawings for members of the new rewards program, which debuted last Saturday.

By MARY RAMPELLINI

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Chris Hartman is looking forward to running Etesaal on turf. That was the intent earlier this month at Lone Star Park, when he started in an allowance prep for the $50,000 Bob Johnson Memorial here Saturday. But the race was moved to a muddy main track because of rain. Etesaal prevailed anyway, and will start as a top choice Saturday when he moves back to his best surface for the Bob Johnson.

"It looks like he's done his best work on the turf," Hartman said.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - A total of 121 horses have been entered for Saturday's 13-race, $1.3 million Louisiana Downs Champions Day program. The card will have eight races for Thoroughbreds and five for Quarter Horses and will be restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. All races carry a $100,000 purse.

The first Thoroughbred event will be the Louisiana Breeders' Oaks, which goes as the fourth race. Ahead of Her Time puts her perfect four-race record on the line in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Serenading, a 3-year-old filly who had been under serious consideration for Sunday's Ontario Matron, will be looking to extend her streak in Friday's main supporting feature here at Woodbine.

The $73,800 allowance and optional claimer for fillies and mares on the main track is carded as the third race and attracted a field of seven.

Serenading has won her last two starts at Friday's 1 1/16-mile distance, under maiden special and first-level allowance terms, and should handle the step up in conditions under leading rider David Clark.

Scat's Princess will try to turn the tables on C.R. Charmer as they head a field of eight in Friday's $27,500 Falls Amiss Handicap for Nebraska-bred fillies and mares on day two of the Horsemen's Park four-day summer racing festival in Omaha, Neb.

Friday's races also feature a 1 3/8-mile $3,500 claiming race with a purse of $17,500. That race drew a full field of 10 with Olympic Junction and Tombstone the likely favorites.

MIAMI - Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said the one thing he cannot control when it comes to veteran turf specialist Magic Mecke is the weather. Such was the case earlier this month when the 7-year-old's much-anticipated return in the Mecke Handicap was postponed after the race was switched from the grass to the main track due to rain.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Irish trainer Dermot Weld has made a habit of sending horses from Ireland for the American Derby at Arlington. He had a couple prospects picked out for this year's race, too, but a shipping snafu almost cost Weld a chance for his fourth win in the American Derby on Saturday.

All I Can Get, the top juvenile in Michigan last year, avenged his loss in last month's Lansing Stakes with a resounding win in Tuesday's $50,000 Spartan Stakes at Great Lakes Downs. Under leading rider Freddie Mata, All I Can Get won by three lengths over Kentucky invader Candid Image, who was more than a length clear of Lansing winner Born to Tango.

Louisiana Legends Night in late June and last weekend's Cajun Jockey Challenge are tough acts to follow, but the participants in Saturday's inaugural running of the $50,000 Oak Hall Stakes are going to give it their best shot.

A total of eight sprinters passed the entry box Wednesday morning for the seven-furlong stakes.