SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Todd Pletcher's decision not to send Wait a While cross-country for Saturday's Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks creates an intriguing matchup between that filly and Lady of Venice in Friday's Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga.

, a multiple-stakes-winning French-bred filly, was beaten just one length in the Grade 1 Diana when facing older fillies and mares for the first time.

Pace pressure, a demanding racing surface, and perhaps a little inexperience all conspired against Magical Ride, who gave way late while finishing third to Octave in Wednesday's Grade 2, $200,000 before 20,751 at Saratoga.

CHICAGO - Seven 3-year-old fillies were entered Wednesday for Saturday's Arlington Oaks, but how many are actually running remains to be seen.

The Grade 3, $100,000 Oaks is not the only 3-year-old filly race on the menu here Saturday; also on the card is the Hatoof, an overnight stakes prep for the Pucker Up, the meet's best race for 3-year-old turf

CHICAGO - Her win rate has slowed since the meet's first two months, when her horses seemed to be winning a stakes race each weekend, but trainer Christine Janks still is in the midst of an excellent Arlington season, and she has two chances to win the featured eighth race on Friday.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The list read like a who's who of Louisiana racing when entries were drawn Wednesday afternoon for Saturday's Louisiana Downs Champions Day. A total of 130 horses were entered for the 13-race program, which is restricted to Louisiana-breds and comprises eight races for Thoroughbreds and five for Quarter Horses. All ages and divisions are represented, and each of the 13 races is worth $100,000.

There is a mix of the old and the new in the meet's showcase of the best horses Louisiana has to offer.

Trainer Bret Calhoun is stepping up his presence at Remington Park. He has moved 40 horses into the track for the recently opened meet there, up from the 28 head he kept here last season when he captured the training title. Among his top local runners are Be a Resident, an undefeated 2-year-old, and Lumbre, a candidate for the $50,000 Silver Goblin on Saturday.

Lawyer Ron, winner of the Arkansas Derby, heads the list of nominees for the $250,000 St. Louis Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race at Fairmount Park on Aug. 26. Lawyer Ron is likely to start, as his trainer, Bob Holthus, hopes to use the St. Louis Derby as a stepping-stone to next month's Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, and then take a shot at the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Thundering Verzy ran his record to 5 for 5 over the Columbus oval when he drew off for a 3 3/4-length win in Saturday's $18,150 Amadevil Stakes for his first win of the year.

Surrounded by friends and family in a surprise gathering between races Sunday at River Downs, jockey Jeff Johnston was given a heartfelt good-bye on his last day as a professional jockey. Johnston, 36, retired at the end of Sunday's program to become the treasurer and Midwest regional manager of the Jockeys' Guild.

An upset win by Kon Krete Kid ($95) last Sunday at Saratoga helped lift handicapper Les Harris to victory in the Oaklawn Park qualifying tournament for the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship.

Harris beat out 162 participants and won the first-place prize of $12,000. He will lead a team of three from Oaklawn in the championships in Las Vegas in January.