SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Overseeing 4,500 slot machines at Aqueduct may be the primary reason there are as many as 16 entities formulating bids for the franchise to run Thoroughbred racing in New York. For the rest of the story, pay attention to the next six weeks.

Saratoga, the premier meet on the Thoroughbred racing calendar, opens the gates on Wednesday for its 138th season. From the backstretch, to the jockeys' quarters to the owner's boxes to the betting windows, Saratoga is the place where the elite meet to race, gamble, and party.

ELMONT, N.Y. - To some, Bernardini remains almost as much a mystery exiting the Preakness as he was entering it. Trainer Tom Albertrani looks forward to unraveling that mystery this summer at Saratoga.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Starlite Strike and jockey Richard Hamel enjoyed a triumphant reunion Saturday in the $100,000 Northlands Oaks, one of the two major offerings here for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Pedestrian fractions up front in 35-degree temperatures proved to be no detriment for the late-running Starlite Strike, who in her only other start under Hamel was nipped by a nose in the Sadie Diamond Futurity last year in Vancouver.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The names and faces have changed, but the competitive nature of the Saratoga jockey colony remains the same. In fact, despite the retirements of Hall of Fame riders Jerry Bailey and Gary Stevens, this year's colony may be the deepest it has ever been.

While John Velazquez and Edgar Prado are the deserving favorites to win the Saratoga riding title, their competition will be brutally tough. Garrett Gomez, Kent Desormeaux, and former Saratoga riding champion Mike Smith are here after spending last summer at Del Mar.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Last year, horsemen had so many gripes with the setup of Saratoga's race-day security barn that they nearly threatened not to run their horses on opening day.

After finally admitting they had erred by not consulting with horsemen beforehand, New York Racing Association officials promised a better situation for the 2006 meet. It looks like they have delivered on that promise.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Time off over the winter helped Park Avenue Ball grow and mature. The fruits of that rest have been impressive so far this season at Monmouth Park.

The 4-year-old Park Avenue Ball is 2 for 3 in stakes this meet, with the lone loss a rallying second behind Flower Alley, the Travers winner and Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up, in the Salvator Mile.

DEL MAR, Calif. - You can make good money as a foot and ankle surgeon, but it can't provide the thrills of racing. That's why Bart Edwards followed his muse. He left his medical practice 3 1/2 years ago to pursue a life-long love of the track. On Wednesday, Edwards will try to win the $125,000 Graduation Stakes at Del Mar with Twin Fin, a colt he both owns and trains.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The day after a performance even the usually circumspect Neil Drysdale described as "amazing," Drysdale was contemplating what move to make next with Aragorn, who set a course record in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar.

The Ohio State Racing Commission ruled Monday that the purse for the $100,000 Queen City Oaks, which was declared a no-contest by River Downs stewards on Saturday because of a starting gate malfunction, will not be distributed and that the race will be redrawn and rerun on Sunday, Aug. 13.

CHICAGO - The winners of all three turf stakes last Saturday at Arlington Park figure to reconvene on Arlington Million Day.

Cosmonaut, winner of the Arlington Handicap, will take a serious step up in class and try the Arlington Million, trainer Patrick Biancone said Monday. Chic Dancer, the locally based horse who upset the Modesty Handicap last weekend, is slated for a start in the Beverly D. And Union Avenue, a 23-1 winner in the American Derby, will likely return to Arlington from his base at Churchill Downs and try the Grade 1 Secretariat.