The lack of speed in the Maryland Racing Media Handicap didn't bother Lexi Star at all. Instead of sitting off the pace, the 5-year-old Lexi Star simply went for the lead.

Allowed to loaf through soft fractions of 49.15 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:13.62 for six furlongs, Lexi Star ($4.80) was uncatchable and coasted to a 6 1/4-length victory in the $86,400 feature at Laurel Park.

Trainer Chris Grove said he figured it would be better if jockey Ryan Fogelsonger put Lexi Star on the lead rather than allow another horse to set a tepid pace.

Sir Five Star overtook a trio of battling leaders in the stretch and drew out to an 8 1/2-length win over Irish Dreamer in the $50,000 Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to The Hitman in third.

J'ray cruised to an easy victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Ridden with confidence by Robby Albarado, J'ray sat in fourth position behind pacesetter Candy Ball, who crawled through a 50.35-second half-mile with Cat Alert pressing her on the outside.

"She got in a great spot," said Albarado. "She was able to relax in a good position. When I called on her, she overpowered the speed."

Brent Reitz has been named the new general manager of Thistledown. Reitz, 45, has served as the track's assistant general manager since William J. Murphy, Thistledown's former GM, was named the vice president and general manager of Gulfstream Park last July.

Murphy, who was named president of Gulfstream in January, had been overseeing the operations of both facilities. Gulfstream and Thistledown are owned by Magna Entertainment.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Lava Man, the leading older horse in California, has been assigned 124 pounds for Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, a race he won in 2006.

An 11-time stakes winner, Lava Man will spot his probable rivals from seven to 10 pounds in the Grade 1 race over 1 1/4 miles.

"I think he's a deserving highweight," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "Now, he needs to run to it. The pressure is on, but he seems to rise to it. Hopefully, he can do that Saturday."

Russell Baze continued his hot streak by winning with six of his seven mounts at Bay Meadows on Friday.

Baze finished third aboard My Lacie Cat in the first race, then reeled off victories aboard Valid Star ($6) in the second, favored Ploesti Flight ($3.80) in the third, Apollo Gal ($5.40) in the fifth, Senator Matty ($6.80) in the sixth, favored Stage Fever ($3) in the seventh, and favored Handsome Lover ($3.60) in the eighth.

Baze, who won three of seven races Thursday, has now won 20 races from 48 mounts at the current Bay Meadows meet.

NEW ORLEANS - Trainer Al Stall Jr. sent out Total for a half-mile breeze in 50 seconds Saturday morning in preparation for her next assignment, the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 10.

"I talked with Jesse [Campbell] about going in 50 and she hit it right on the head," said Stall. "She's just push-button, she does everything easy. We're going to try the same thing next weekend, maybe a tick or two faster."

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Despite breaking through the gate prior to the start, Hotstufanthensome unleashed a strong run down the middle of the course in the stretch and came away with a half-length victory over a fast-closing Classic Campaign in Saturday's $150,000 Tampa Bay Breeders' Cup before 5,256 fans.

Under a well-judged ride by Rajiv Maragh, who won two races on the program, Hotstufanthensome covered 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:41.24 to post his 10th win, and ninth on the turf.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In the paddock, prior to the running of Saturday's Rare Treat Handicap at Aqueduct, jockey Eibar Coa asked assistant trainer Steve Moyer if it was okay to put their filly, Dina, on the lead.

"He's the leading rider here; I said 'Just do what you got to do,' '' said Moyer, the assistant to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

What Coa did was hustle Dina out of the gate, set a pedestrian pace, and then draw off to a 4 1/4-length victory over Daytime Promise in the $70,175 Rare Treat. Dina ($6.50) covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.33.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Carl Nafzger has been playing it close to the vest when it comes to revealing where his Eclipse Award winner Street Sense will make his 3-year-old debut. Nafzger did open up just a bit on Saturday morning when he ruled out the 7 1/2-furlong Hutcheson Stakes here and cited the Tampa Bay Derby (March 17) or Rushaway Stakes (March 24) at Turfway Park as the two most likely options.