Strike Softly ($3.20) outclassed her seven rivals in the $336,700 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine, winning the 1o1/16-mile grass race by 1 1/2 lengths under Todd Kabel.
Over a course labeled firm, Murani and Essential Edge dueled through fractions of 24.35 and 46.94 seconds. Strike Softly stalked the leaders along the rail, and was steadied on the turn while inside of Fiery Dancer, who had Corey Fraser aboard.
Smart Enough blitzed seven rivals - and broke the course record - in $60,000 Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by John R.S. Fisher, zipped the 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:00.81.
Despite being off since November, Smart Enough was well backed on the return to his favorite course, returning $4. He is unbeaten in three grass races here, all stakes, at distances ranging from five furlongs to one mile.
Dreaming of Anna was more workmanlike than brilliant on Saturday at Arlington Park, but at last she won this time.
Last year's champion 2-year-old filly, Dreaming of Anna had lost all three of her 2007 starts before breaking through in the Double Delta, a one-mile overnight turf stakes that scratched down from 10 entries to six starters.
MIAMI - For the second straight Saturday, the south Florida rainy season helped a member of the Ziadie family win a stakes race at Calder.
Last weekend, Ralph Ziadie took the $50,000 Sara's Success Stakes with Cat Can Do, who drew in off the also-eligible list when the race was switched from the turf to the main course because of overnight showers.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cobrador and It's a Danzig checked in from Arlington Park on Friday morning, both out to use Sunday's Plate Trial as a springboard to the $1 million Queen's Plate on June 24 at Woodbine.
Cobrador, trained by Richie Scherer, takes up temporary residence in the barn of trainer Malcolm Pierce, while It's a Danzig, trained by Rebecca Maker, is in Mike Keogh's shed row.
The $150,000 Plate Trial, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, will be the second appearance by Cobrador at Woodbine, but the first for Scherer.
MIAMI - Three stakes-placed 3-year-olds drop back into the allowance ranks and stretch out around two turns in the $28,000 main event Sunday at Calder.
Pop Goes the Tiger, Dippi Trippi, and James Wilfred have all had success at the stakes level, although all three still are seeking their first victory of the season in Sunday's one-mile race.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Like most racing fans, Larry Roman was hugely disappointed when he learned that Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense would not be running in the Belmont Stakes.
As a horse owner, Roman feels compelled to do something about it. So, he plans on running his newly acquired 3-year-old Digger in next Saturday's $1 million Belmont against Preakness winner Curlin and Derby runner-up Hard Spun. Digger, purchased by Roman about five weeks ago for $60,000 from William Wise, is a Maryland-bred gelded son of Yonaguska who has won 2 of 8 starts.
CHICAGO - Arlington Park's early season goes light on graded stakes, feeding fans a steady diet of $45,000 overnight stakes that recently have attracted good-sized fields of actual stakes-class performers. But while Sunday's Mister Gus, a one-mile turf race, has some talent, it drew the shortest field - just six horses - among recent overnight offerings.
And this is an eclectic sextet. Prosico, a winner in half his eight races, never has raced on grass, and though 14-time winner Fifteen Rounds has, he has never run in a race around two turns.
AUBURN, Wash. - It was less than two months ago that Wild Cycle suffered an accident in his stall, severing an artery in his leg and losing so much blood that trainer Aubrey Villyard feared for his life.
Remarkably, Wild Cycle, who won last year's WTBA Lads Stakes as a juvenile, will make his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's $60,000 Pepsi-Cola Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lava Man and Obrigado left for Dubai in mid-March as early season major stakes winners seeking international glory. They will start in Saturday's $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park in an effort to restore their reputations.
Lava Man, winner of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in March, finished last of 16 in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free over about 1 1/8 miles on turf on March 31. Obrigado, winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo Handicap in February, finished 13th in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic over about 1 1/2 miles on turf.