DEL MAR, Calif. - From coast to coast, Behaving Badly has been a star in the female sprint division this year, winning four of five starts, all in stakes.

On Friday at Del Mar, Behaving Badly's outstanding season continues when she defends her title in the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on a track on which she has never been beaten.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Patti and Hal Earnhardt, Behaving Badly will be a strong favorite against five fillies and mares. The race is run at 6 1/2 furlongs, a distance at which Behaving Badly is proven.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Arravale finished five lengths behind Wait a While in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park, a third-place finish that was somewhat lost in the wake of the winner's impressive performance.

But Woodbine-based trainer Mac Benson was thrilled with Arravale's effort, and immediately began making plans for a return trip to California for Saturday's $400,000 Del Mar Oaks.

Arravale arrived in California on Monday, and Benson argues that she is in better form than she was at Hollywood Park.

DEL MAR, Calif. - A unique piece of California racing history awaits Lava Man in the winner's circle of Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Lava Man can become the first horse to sweep the state's major races for handicap horses - the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in March, the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup in July, and the Pacific Classic.

Owned by Jason Wood and the Kenly family's STD Racing, Lava Man is the first horse to be in this position.

"It would be an unbelievable accomplishment," said Lava Man's trainer, Doug O'Neill.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The connections of Original Spin had modest objectives for their 3-year-old filly when they decided to ship her to Saratoga for the summer: Find a second-level allowance race early in the meet and then run in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at the end.

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.