Jockey Patrick Valenzuela made an unexpected and winning return to racing on Sunday, riding Becrux to an upset victory in the Woodbine Mile. His appearance at the Canadian track was all the more surprising because Valenzuela is not yet cleared to ride on his home circuit in Southern California, where there are questions about his recent absence.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Having dominated racing on the East Coast for the last several years, two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher will try to make an impact on the West Coast this coming fall and winter.

Pletcher confirmed Monday that he will be sending a string of horses to Southern California beginning with the opening of the Hollywood Park meet, which starts Nov. 1. Pletcher will keep horses stabled at Hollywood Park through at least the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While Murray Johnson has been preparing Perfect Drift for the Sept. 30 Kentucky Cup Classic, the veteran trainer also has been dealing with difficult times at home.

Johnson's 78-year-old father, Geoffrey, suffered a major stroke about two weeks ago, just days after being flown to Louisville from California, where he had suffered a near-fatal heart attack Aug. 18 while visiting Murray at Del Mar for the Pacific Classic. The Johnsons are from Australia, and Murray has been dealing with the details of having his father flown back home.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - California connections swept the board when Becrux, trainer Neil Drysdale, and jockey Patrick Valenzuela won the Woodbine Mile on Sunday.

But the East and Midwest regions of the United States also shared in the stakes spoils at Woodbine on Sunday as Ready's Gal led throughout in the Grade 2, $300,400 Canadian Stakes and Dreaming of Anna turned in a tour de force in the Grade 3, $251,600 Summer Stakes.

CHICAGO - Short fields and chalk - a diet like bread and water for everyday handicappers. But the menu tends to change at Hawthorne, and the first three days of the fall meet have been no exception.

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Weatherstorm, riding a four-race winning streak, heads a field of six Michigan-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings, including two stablemates, in Wednesday's $50,000 Mackinac Handicap at Great Lakes Downs.

Weatherstorm, at 126 pounds, will spot his rivals six to 15 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile Mackinac. Owned by Marion Gorham, Weatherstorm is trained by her brother, veterinarian Robert Gorham, who is second in the trainer standings here.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Becrux, named after the second-brightest star in the galaxy of Crux, became a star of the first magnitude here in Sunday's Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile.

A 4-year-old who began his career in Italy, Becrux had won a couple of minor stakes in California since being purchased by Team Valor Stable and Gary Barber for $1 million, but he has suddenly blossomed into a major player in the turf division.

POMONA, Calif. - Trainer Mel Stute said he could not believe he could be so wrong. He kicked himself for turning down a six-figure offer on the 2-year-old filly Quick Little Miss.

It was May, one month after she finished a promising fourth in her debut. In her second start, Quick Little Miss was dead last in a maiden special weight at Hollywood Park.

"I was upset I didn't take the money," Stute said.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Seven stakes races for Alberta-breds, worth a collective $400,000 on Saturday's 10th Alberta Fall Classic program at Northlands Park, attracted 72 nominations.

Apilonia heads the list of eight 2-year-old fillies eligible for the $50,000 Sturgeon River. Her trainer, Greg Tracy, has dominated the juvenile stakes this summer with four wins.

Apilonia won the Filly Sales Stakes here Aug. 19, besting Winnipeg invader Gypsophila, who is expected back to renew the rivalry.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The fragile condition of Belmont's turf courses, combined with a forecast that called for a 60 percent chance of showers Tuesday, make it unclear whether Wednesday's $65,000 Wanderkin Stakes will remain on the turf.

The Wanderkin, restricted to New York-bred 3-year-old males, is scheduled for one mile on the Widener Turf. The race drew 16 horses, including two main track-only entrants.