SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Golden Commander beat Foreverness by a half-length in the 2004 West Point Handicap at Saratoga. After injury and illness prevented both from running in the West Point last year, the two consistent New York-bred turf horses are back for Sunday's 27th running of the $100,000 West Point.

Thirteen statebreds were entered for the West Point, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles over the Mellon Turf Course. Only 12 will be permitted to run. Four additional runners were entered if the race is moved to the main track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It has been two weeks since Preakness winner Bernardini crushed five rivals by nine lengths in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. Afterward, trainer Tom Albertrani predicted his lightly raced 3-year-old would move forward off the effort.

All indications are that this is exactly what has happened.

In his first workout since the Jim Dandy, Bernardini cruised through five furlongs in 1:03.48 over Saratoga's main track in preparation for the $1 million Travers on Aug. 26. While not a fast move, it was done with relative ease.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association will pay homage to Saratoga's all-time winningest rider with a "Salute to Jerry Bailey" ceremony following Sunday's fifth race.

Among the activities planned are a three-minute video tribute with some of Bailey's greatest Spa rides, a presentation of a special gift from NYRA, speeches by trainer Bill Mott and jockey Angel Cordero Jr., and the unveiling of a new Choco Jocko Bailey ice cream.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Much like editors at a newspaper, fans at Saratoga on Sunday are expected to yell, "Get me Rewrite."

There's good reason. Not for the editing - after all, all writers' words are perfect - but for betting on Rewrite, who is perfect in three grass starts and will seek her first stakes victory in the $70,000-added Irish Linnet Stakes, the eighth race on Sunday's 10-race card.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Ralph Nicks has been in Saratoga for the past few weeks, and early Friday he still had not seen the past performances for the Mariah's Storm, the featured eighth race Sunday at Arlington Park. Nicks is scheduled to run Sea Siren, who just raced last weekend at Ellis Park, in the $40,000 race for older fillies and mares.

"Is there a ton of speed in there against us?" he asked. "Because if there is, I might not want to run her back so quick."

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Brian Pitnick is looking forward to Sunday's feature at the San Mateo Fair at Bay Meadows. He sends Logan Avenue Linda against seven older rivals in a $62,500 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf - a surface on which he's been wanting to try Logan Avenue Linda.

Logan Avenue Linda has won two straight. She romped in a starter allowance at Pleasanton, then was in a battle all the way at Solano, winning a first-level allowance race by a nose.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Tim Ritchey hopes Amandatude will continue her improvement Sunday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

"She's gotten better with every start and I think the best is still ahead of her," Ritchey said.

Amandatude faces five rivals in the 82nd running of the 1 1/16-mile race, and all six filies are seeking their first graded stakes victory.

The Arlington Park stewards have fined trainer Marty Wolfson $1,000 and taken away second-place purse money from Can't Beat It, runner-up in the American Derby on Aug. 22, after the 3-year-old tested positive for trace levels of the prohibited substance isoxsuprine, the Arlington stewards said.

The ruling, issued Friday, infuriated Wolfson, who said he and Can't Beat It's owner, Charlotte Weber of Live Oak Farm, would likely appeal the decision. Wolfson said he would never race in the state of Illinois again.

Jockeys Thomas Clifton and Ediberto Rodriguez were hospitalized with injuries sustained when their mounts fell during Thursday night's third race at Penn National Race Course.

Clifton, 37, the track's leading rider with 96 wins, broke his nose, collarbone, and several ribs. He also underwent a non-surgical procedure to halt internal bleeding caused by a lacerated liver and is expected to spend several days in the intensive care unit of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Jockey Carlos Gonzalez picked up career win number 2,000 in dramatic fashion Friday afternoon at Louisiana Downs, narrowly prevailing in the ninth race of the day aboard 9-5 favorite Del Norte. Gonzalez outfinished leading apprentice Cody Meche, who was aboard Brickadier General, following a spirited stretch battle. The winner is trained by leading trainer Cole Norman who has been riding Gonzalez first call for most of the season.