NEW ORLEANS - When a horse loses at 2-5, people naturally look for explanations, although such conundrums are part of the eternal mystery of horse racing. Skyward Exchange finished a well-beaten third Jan. 15 as the odds-on choice after winning twice in her comeback from an injury. She's back Sunday in the feature race at Fair Grounds, an optional claimer for older fillies and mares at a mile and 40 yards.

ALBANY, Calif. - At a meet that has been the springboard to Sunshine Millions victories for McCann's Mojave and Smokey Stover, as well as the first step along the Triple Crown trail for Bwana Bull, the most amazing story of the Golden Gate Fields season may belong to Blazing Desert.

Blazing Desert, a 4-year-old gelding, will run in a $40,000 starter allowance Sunday as he tries to repeat his seven-length victory in a $20,000 maiden claimer on Jan. 25.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The last time Lawyer Ron competed under allowance conditions was during December of his 2-year-old campaign at Louisiana Downs. He won the race by nearly 11 lengths.

Lawyer Ron returns to the allowance ranks for the first time in 14 months on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. And if he runs his best race, the final result may be about the same.

NEW ORLEANS - It's not the average horse that can win his career debut at 5 1/2 furlongs in June of his 2-year-old season and emerge as a hopeful for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby the next spring. Circular Quay clearly is not the average horse, but Saturday's Risen Star Stakes will help determine where Circular Quay, one of the best 2-year-olds of 2006, stands in the early-season 3-year-old hierarchy.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Lawrence Roman nearly let the big horse get away.

Though he is one of three men listed as the breeder of the talented colt named Lawrence the Roman, Roman, the human, had to buy the horse back through the auction ring. And he is certainly glad he did.

ALBANY, Calif. - Although she is the most accomplished runner in the field, Glorification may have the most to prove in Saturday's $100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields.

Glorification is the lone stakes winner in the field of seven fillies, which includes her stablemates Storming Starlet and Eastlake Avenue. She has led in all three of her starts while exhibiting an exciting turn of early foot.

A chance to catch his breath may be all Reigning Court needed. The 4-year-old gelding, freshened a bit after a disappointing run in the slop at Fair Grounds on Christmas Eve, returns to head Saturday's $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Sunland Park. The five-furlong event for 3-year-olds and up lured a field of eight.

The only other time Victorina visited Turf Paradise she put on a show. She invaded here for the Oct. 28 Ahwatukee Express and won in a romp, geared down. Other distaffers had to be pleased to see her return to her northern California base, but the 4-year-old filly returns – maybe even bigger and badder – for Saturday’s $45,000 Princess of Palms Handicap. The six-furlong event for fillies and mares, 4 years old and upward, lured a field seven.

NEW ORLEANS - The 800-pound gorilla stayed home, and nobody with a horse in the Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup Handicap is crying about it.

English Channel, one of the best turf horses in the country the last two years, had been expected to ship in from Florida to use the FG BC as a prep for a stakes race on the Dubai World Cup card, but he wasn't entered in the race.

"I mean, you never duck just one horse, and we were going to give it a try, but still," said Malcolm Pierce, who trains Devilment.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Nobiz Like Shobiz has resumed training following his very professional victory in last Saturday's Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and trainer Barclay Tagg couldn't be any more pleased at the way his horse came out of the race.