ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Elle Runaway, who finished second behind Ambitious Cat in last year's Dance Smartly, will have to bring her "A" game to the table here Sunday when she takes on the favored Arravale in this year's edition of the 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

But Malcolm Pierce, who trains Elle Runaway for Live Oak Plantation, believes she is coming into the Grade 2, $300,000 Dance Smartly on a high note and isn't about to make a prerace concession speech.

"It's no easy spot," Pierce said. "But she can hold her own with these fillies on her best day."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense blazed through a sensational workout Thursday morning at Churchill Downs when going five furlongs in 57.40 seconds under regular rider Calvin Borel.

With trainer Carl Nafzger away on a fishing vacation, assistant Ian Wilkes oversaw the work, which came over a dry track, but one that has not been playing particularly fast for morning works.

"This was our major work," said Wilkes. "We were looking for a good work. He's a fast horse, and they work fast. This horse is unbelievable, the way he can do things."

DEL MAR, Calif. - They're off and running on Polytrack at Del Mar. And running. And running. They still might be out there.

The "Polytrack era," as track commentator Trevor Denman called it when the gate opened for Wednesday's second race, began with a six-furlong race for California-bred maiden fillies and mares. This is a group that, on conventional dirt, might have run in the 1:10 to 1:11 range. But when the clock finally stopped after the race, the board read 1:13.95. It's a new era all right, for horses and handicappers.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Barb Heads apparently assessed correctly that the 2-year-old filly division at Hastings is a bit stronger than the colts and geldings division right now.

Heads ran fillies in both the Timber Music Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Saturday and in the Ladnesian Stakes open to males on Sunday.

Rosada finished fourth for her in the Timber Music and Remarkable Miss finished second in the Ladnesian.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A filly who took on colts in her last start is running in Saturday's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park.

No, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches did not re-enter the picture. Folk, who got dusted by males in the UAE Derby on March 31, is one of four 3-year-old fillies considered definite for Saturday's $300,000 CCA Oaks. The others are Octave, Humble Janet, and Wow Me Free.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The training titles are no longer what matters most to Bobby Frankel. Quality long ago replaced quantity. He has not topped the trainer standings at Del Mar since 1978, when he led the meet for the fifth time in six years. Had he made Del Mar the focal point of his operation every summer in recent years, perhaps Frankel would have won more races, and stakes, and been higher than fourth all-time on both lists.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Dick Small was already on his way to Belmont Park from Maryland on Wednesday morning when he got word the card had been cancelled due to severe thunderstorms that flooded the area.

"Fortunately, I was just getting started," Small said. "I didn't get too far."

His filly Cozy Gain was already at Belmont, waiting in vain for the Drum Tap Stakes slated for that afternoon.

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.