Mystery Classic powered up the rail for a 1 3/4-length win over favorite Orphan Brigade in the $50,000 Lone Star Park Sprint on Wednesday. The five-furlong race was originally scheduled for turf, but after rain in the area it was moved to a muddy main track. Toga Too finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Orphan Brigade.

The Stars and Stripes Handicap is run on Arlington Park's turf course at 1 1/2 miles, but the race came down to a bob of the head. And the way things have gone this year for Robby Albarado, you knew which horse had gotten his head down. Albarado and Always First prevailed by inches over Ramsey Zimmerman and Cloudy's Knight, who took a tough loss in a game effort.

Idiot Proof broke the track record in the Grade 3, $150,000 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes one race after Joe Bravo got his 4,000th win to highlight a festive July Fourth holiday card at Monmouth Park.

Bravo reached the milestone aboard Alotofappeal in the eighth race.

"I want to thank all the agents I had in the past, the trainers and the owners that helped me to 4,000," said Bravo, who had four wins on the card.

Idiot Proof ($10.60) was the equine star before a crowd of 15,791.

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. was concerned that wet weather would force Wednesday's $100,000 Mecke Handicap to be taken off the grass, preventing Magic Mecke from defending his title in Calder's traditional July Fourth feature.

Not to worry.

Sure enough, heavy showers Tuesday evening moved the Mecke from the turf to the main track. So Plesa went to Plan B, scratching Magic Mecke and then sending out Electrify to register a 3 1/4-length decision over 9-5 favorite Cheiron. Golden Strategy finished third.

Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, won his first race in a year Wednesday in the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y.

Management at Finger Lakes doubled the Wadsworth purse from $50,000 in order to attract Funny Cide - and, to the chagrin of his seven rivals in the 1 1/8-mile race, it worked.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Imagine if Todd Pletcher took Octave to Australia to run in one of that country's richest races, and you can start to wrap your head around what trainer David Hayes and his filly Anamato will try to accomplish Saturday in the Grade 1, $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Someone is walking around Southern California with two winning pick six tickets that cost a combined $6 and are worth a pre-tax bonanza of $1,154,368.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The next stop for the unbeaten Cable Boy will be the $1 million Haskell Invitational.

Trainer John Forbes said Wednesday that the colt will skip the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes on July 14, the traditional Monmouth Park prep for 3-year-olds heading to the Haskell on Aug. 5.

Forbes felt the timing was too tight. Cable Boy debuted with an impressive win on the opening weekend of the meet. In his second start, Cable Boy broke the track record for one mile and 70 yards in a first-level allowance.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The first three finishers in the Grade 3 Lieutenant Governors last Sunday - Spaghetti Mouse, Timeless Passion, and Forceful Intention - all came out of the race in good shape, and according to their trainers, they're all being pointed to the $100,000 B.C. Cup Classic on Aug. 6.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Cash's Girl was no match for Dream Rush when she faced her in the Grade 2 Nassau County Breeders' Cup two months ago. But with a confidence-boosting allowance win under her belt and a possible hot pace scenario brewing, Cash's Girl may deserve a second look in Saturday's Grade 1 Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park.