A year after its inaugural meet, Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., is back with a richer stakes schedule, an expanded simulcast network, more slot machines, and a new director of racing. The track's 49-day run of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing starts Saturday and will continue through Dec. 12.

Zia is a $50 million racino with a one-mile track, situated in the southeastern portion of the state, just miles from the border of west Texas. R.D. Hubbard is the majority owner of Zia, as well as Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.

By DAVID GRENING

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Rusty Arnold believes there were several reasons why Magical Ride was unable to replicate her brilliant debut when she finished third as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Adirondack Breeders' Cup last month at Saratoga.

EDMONTON, Alberta - The Alberta Breeders' and Fall Classic Distaff are the richest races on Saturday's Alberta Fall Classic Day, each with a purse of $75,000, but there is no shortage of interest in the five $50,000 stakes on the program.

Apilonia will be favored in the Sturgeon River off her win in the 2-year-old Filly Sales Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs here Aug. 19. Owned by Donver Stable and trained by Greg Tracy, Apilonia was a handy 4 1/2-length winner there over Winnipeg-based Gypsophila, who is back to renew the rivalry and stretches out to mile in the Sturgeon River.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Saturday's 10th edition of the Alberta Fall Classic, the provincial breeding industry's showcase day at Northlands Park, features 51 Alberta-breds in seven stakes races competing for $400,000 in purses. There are five $50,000 stakes to go along with the card's twin features, the Alberta Breeders' Handicap and the Fall Classic Distaff, each worth $75,000.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs will serve as a Breeders' Cup Classic tryout for Kentucky Derby alums Lawyer Ron and Point Determined, and Grade 2 Dwyer winner Strong Contender. Because the three favorites bring depth to the 1 1/8-mile race, the Super Derby is a good litmus test as to whether they should advance to Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

"That's why we're coming," said Bob Baffert, trainer of Point Determined. "We're going to find out where we fit."

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A contentious field of nine 3-year-old fillies meet in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks at Hastings.

Chestnut Lady could be the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, but Sophie's Trophy, Langara Lass, and Starlite Strike all look like serious contenders. Plus, Real Candy, Hurry an Notis, and No Ka Oi all appear to have outside chances of pulling off an upset.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Hey Hey Renee looks to complete a perfect meet in Saturday's Matron Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares here at Assiniboia Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile Matron Breeders' Cup carries a guaranteed purse of $40,000 with an additional $25,000 for the field's Breeders' Cup-eligible horses - Empress Pegasus, Fancy Tango, Just Fine, Kathern's Cat, and Vicar's Daughter.

POMONA, Calif. - A three-day pick six carryover of nearly $1 million lured bettors to Fairplex Park on Wednesday, where the track handled a single-day record of more than $10.3 million.

The pick six attracted $2.9 million in fresh money and returned $78,794 to 33 winning tickets. While a slew of weekend longshot winners created the carryover, predictability returned Wednesday as the Los Angeles County Fair entered its third and final week.

POMONA, Calif. - Horseplayers underwhelmed by Allswellthatnswell when she won the E.B. Johnston Stakes 12 days ago can wager against her Friday at Fairplex Park, where she starts as the topweight in the $100,000 Las Madrinas Handicap.

Six fillies and mares entered the 1 1/16-mile race. It is not a strong group. Graded stakes-placed Allswell-thatnswell may be the class of the field, but Tanta Suerte may be the filly to beat after a sharp third-place finish in a fast-paced stakes at Del Mar.

Silverfoot will be back in the rural environs of Franklin, Ky., on Saturday to defend his title in the Kentucky Cup Turf, the Grade 3 race that serves as the annual highlight of the Kentucky Downs meet.

Silverfoot, trained by Dallas Stewart, posted a seven-length victory with a terrific late surge in the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf last year and has since retained solid form while keeping high-class company. He is scheduled to face eight other older horses in the 10th running of the 1 1/2-mile Turf.