HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Nick Zito, who has already had a dozen second-place finishes during the opening five weeks of the Gulfstream Park meet, told his help earlier this week he needs a "Ruffian" to get out of the rut.

Silver Knockers may not be Ruffian just yet but the 3-year-old filly was good enough not only to get Zito back in the winner's circle but to keep her record perfect by beating a strong field of entry-level allowance rivals here Thursday. The field included the previously undefeated Panty Raid, a highly regarded Todd Pletcher filly.

NEW ORLEANS - The $75,000 Chou Croute next Saturday is one of the few stakes opportunities at the meet for older female route horses. One of the best of that group stabled here this winter, Ermine, has gone to California for a Grade 1 opportunity, and the shape of the Chou Croute will be in great part determined by what Todd Pletcher decides to do, since Pletcher has four of the 17 nominees to the Chou Croute. Fair Grounds racing officials hoped to learn from Pletcher this weekend which, if any, of his horses he might send.

Semaphore Man proved much the best in the $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Friday, when he rolled to a 3 1/2-length win over Level Playingfield. It was another three lengths back in third to Rodeo's Castle.

The Hot Springs was rescheduled for Friday after inclement weather caused the cancellation of racing on its original date, Feb. 3.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A year to the day after her first win in a Grade 1, Balance will be after another milestone in Sunday's $200,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Grade 2 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies is run at 1 1/8 miles, an important distance in the 2007 plans for Balance, according to trainer David Hofmans.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The undefeated Hard Spun came out of last Wednesday's bullet five-furlong work in good order, his connections said, and remains on target for the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19.

The one-mile race is one of three stakes to be run here over the Presidents Day weekend. Also on deck is the $50,000 Pippin at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares next Saturday and the $50,000 Martha Washington for 3-year-old fillies at a mile next Sunday.

Turfway Park canceled its racing program Thursday night after two races, marking the fifth full or partial cancellation at the Florence, Ky., track since the winter-spring meet began Jan. 1.

Last year, the first winter-spring meet during which Turfway used Polytrack, there were no cancellations. Turfway president Bob Elliston said Friday morning the latest cancellation was made in consultation with jockeys, with the official reason being "frigid temperatures that made conditions unsuitable for racing."

ARCADIA, Calif. - The defection of unbeaten E Z Warrior from the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes with a sore foot has transformed the $150,000 sprint into a glorified allowance race.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. Seven 3-year-olds race seven furlongs in the San Vicente, with the top four contenders still eligible for the first allowance condition - Major Pleasure, Noble Court, Spanish Influence, and Hurry Up Austin.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The gamble of shipping two New Mexico stakes winners to California for graded stakes was apparent to Clyde Veltmann long before he arrived at Santa Anita in late January.

Veltmann has brought Majestic Stream and Dancing Squall here and has big ambitions for the pair over the next month.

Majestic Stream will start in next Saturday's $150,000 San Carlos Handicap at seven furlongs as a prep to the $1omillion Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. Dancing Squall will start in the $100,000 Las Flores Handicap at six furlongs on Feb. 24.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Shug McGaughey had mentioned but never confirmed Saturday's Davona Dale Stakes as a possible launching point for Boca Grande's 3-year-old campaign. So the Hall of Fame horseman said it should not have surprised anyone that he decided not to enter his very promising 3-year-old filly, as many had expected, in the Grade 3 race.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The supporting cast has changed but the main protagonists remain the same for Sunday's $65,000 Correction Handicap at Aqueduct.