PORTLAND, Ore. - The chances that Ex Mountain Cop will be able to complete a sweep of the OTBA Sales Stakes and the Dec. 10 running of the Os West Oregon Futurity, thereby earning a $30,000 bonus, appear to have improved dramatically last weekend.

MIAMI - There are many ways an owner can show confidence in his horse going into a big race, but few any more meaningful than the $180,000 that owners Gary Marano and Ronald Borgese put up just to make their 29-1 chance Nightmare Affair eligible to compete in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Marano and Borgese got their money's worth and then some after Nightmare Affair finished a game third behind Thor's Echo and Friendly Island in the Sprint. With the $213,000 in purse money Nightmare Affair earned, the pair just about broke even after all expenses for the trip were added in.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Crimson Design will head a field of seven older sprinters in Sunday's top offering at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong dash for $12,500 to $16,000 claimers.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For Nicole's Dream, it has been one sensational run since she made her career debut in obscurity by finishing third in a half-mile maiden race at Great Lakes Downs on Aug. 16, 2002.

The 53rd and final start for Nicole's Dream will come Sunday in the $100,000 Pent Up Kiss at Churchill Downs. Larry Rivelli, who has trained the 6-year-old mare for her last 35 races, is hoping she goes out in style by tacking onto her impressive career totals of 24 wins and $815,164 in earnings.

The depth of trainer Fred Danley's stable will be on display Sunday in the $2 million New Mexico Cup at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. He has starters in seven of the 11 stakes on the card, with leading contenders in races for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

Danley, who operates one of New Mexico's most successful stables, is in position to take full advantage of the richest program of races ever run for horses bred in New Mexico.

"I don't really think the money can get any better than what it is on this day right here," he said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - John Kimmel is quite pleased with how Premium Tap came out of his third-place finish in last weekend's Breeders' Cup Classic, but the trainer has not yet decided whether to run the horse again this year or point to a 2007 campaign.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Summerly, the 2005 Kentucky Oaks winner who was excluded last Saturday from the Breeders' Cup Distaff, is scheduled to make the final start of her career in the Nov. 23 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Steve Sherman wasn't sure what to think when Beamer Bee arrived in his father Art's barn.

The 3-year-old filly was her own worst enemy, getting nervous, getting hot and bothered before races, and leaving her race behind the starting gate.

She did nothing in one troubled start as a 2-year-old but has blossomed this year with two consecutive victories heading into Sunday's Bay Meadows feature, a $25,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. She has four rivals.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Jockey Leanne Painter is making the most of her late-season visit to Hastings. Based in Alberta, she chose to finish the year riding at Hastings after Northlands Park closed Oct. 22.

Painter has been popular with local trainers and has won five races from her first 27 mounts.

"I'm off to a fantastic start," she said. "I've been received warmly by everyone, and it's just been great."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine's racing department held an open forum here late Friday morning and approximately 150 horsepeople took the time to show up at the sales pavilion.

While the agenda was open, the only subject discussed was the state of Polytrack, which has become a source of concern for both management and horsemen.

"We know we have a serious problem," Jamie Martin, Woodbine's senior vice president of racing, told the congregation. "We're addressing it as best we can, with maintenance procedures."