SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It is times like these when trainer Kiaran McLaughlin admits to missing Invasor a little bit more.

On the eve of the post-position draw for Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney Handicap, McLaughlin said it would have been nice to have the defending Whitney winner and Horse of the Year to saddle in the $750,000 race. But after the colt suffered a career-ending injury in a workout last month at Belmont Park, McLaughlin is simply happy the horse can have a second career as a stallion.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Go back into the fading past, and you can find winners of the Washington Park Handicap with names that reverberate like bells: Dr. Fager, Round Table, Swaps, Coaltown. Even recently, the Washington Park has featured some really good, if not legendary, steeds. Perfect Drift won the race two of the last four years, and Suave, Tenpins and Guided Tour all had their moments.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Over the past few years, trainer Joe Petalino has had some promising 2-year-olds at Lone Star Park. Last year, he sent out Great Hunter to win his maiden here before the colt was sold and went on to win the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It's been a bit of a struggle for trainer Barb Heads this year, but there are signs that things are turning around for her barn.

At this juncture of the meet last year, Heads was second in the trainers standings with 23 wins. Heads went on to tie Terry Clyde and become the first woman to win the training title at Hastings. This year she's won nine races at the meet going into Friday and is seventh in the standings.

Locally based Miss Macy Sue is scheduled to make her next start in the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3. Miss Macy Sue has won four straight stakes and became a graded winner when she captured the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs on May 28. According to her trainer, Kelly Von Hemel, the long-term goal is $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Monmouth Park on Oct. 26.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jim Cassidy took one look at Passified at a sale in Newmarket, England, last fall and immediately made up his mind. He was buying the 2-year-old filly on behalf of Kentucky farm owner Jim Peyton.

The only catch was that Peyton did not know he was about to become the owner of Passified. A little later, Peyton found out that Cassidy had spent approximately $250,000 on his behalf.

"I don't know if I want her," Peyton told Cassidy after the sale.

"Guess what, buddy," Cassidy responded. "You own her."

- Bill Hodtwalker

Evangeline

The clubhouse at the old Evangeline Downs, which is now a training center, is being razed to make way for a commercial and residential development.

New owner Carrol Castille, a Lafayette, La., businessman with strong ties to horse racing, including the ownership of several racehorses, bought the track along with 255 acres in June. Castille plans to develop part of the property into an upscale neighborhood, using money from the development to fund a $2 million renovation of the training facility that will remain at the site.

Fresh off the heels of a successful Horsemen's Park festival, Nebraska racing switches Friday night to Ag Park in Columbus, which will conduct a 25-day run through Sept. 9.

Racing will be conducted Fridays through Sundays the opening four weeks of the meet. Mondays will then be added for the final three weeks. Post time is 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays and Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3.

Little Bro Lantis, track announcer Paul Allen, and Canterbury Park vice chairman Dale Schenian will be inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame this Sunday at the track.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sans Souci Island will be making just her third start and spots significant experience to her key rivals in Saturday's $250,000 Wonder Where here at Woodbine.

But Sans Souci Island, who has yet to taste defeat, is held in high regard by her trainer, Roger Attfield, and is a legitimate threat in the 1 1/4-mile turf race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

"She's shown a lot of class and quality to me, and I think the mile and a quarter will be no problem for her," said Attfield. "I think she's ready for the situation."