ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Is an Arlington Park one-turn mile an extended sprint or a truncated route? The answer probably depends on the specifics of a given race, and there are both fast sprinters and slower-paced route horses in the one-mile Sweetest Chant Stakes on Sunday at Arlington.

A prep for the nine-furlong Arlington Oaks on Aug. 19, the Sweetest Chant drew six horses, three of whom are obvious win contenders: High Heritage, Rolling Sea, and Coolwind. The other three - Bootery, Tactical Warning, and Just Ducky - need a quantum leap in form to win.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Steve Henson is planning to be very busy on B.C. Cup Day on Aug. 7. Henson could have a horse for every one of the seven stakes races that make up the bulk of what has become the biggest day of racing at Hastings.

"It's still a couple of weeks away, but if things work out, I should have one for every race," he said.

A. V. Flynn hadn't even cooled out following her track-record victory in her debut in a $25,000 maiden claiming race at Pleasanton on June 28 when trainer Steve Miyadi's phone began to ring with offers to purchase her.

The 2-year-old filly is still in Miyadi's barn, and the offers may go up Sunday if she can win the $50,000 Mick Freese Solano County Juvenile Filly Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at the Solano County Fair.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - With scores going low in the first two rounds of the British Open, almost par just isn't going to cut it. At Hastings, though, Almost Par, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Barb Heads, just might be good enough to win the featured race Sunday. The $75,000 optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles drew seven 3-year-olds and goes as the eighth race.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Bethune tops an optional claiming field of six 3-year-olds in Northlands Park's one-mile feature on Sunday, and he appears ready to fulfill expectations after an impressive early-season start and then a poor stakes effort.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Shermanesque, the Fusaichi Pegasus colt who led into deep stretch in the July 8 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs before being overtaken by a torrid inside run from Circular Quay, will miss the Sanford Stakes on Thursday at Saratoga because of a recent setback but should be able to race by mid-meet, said trainer Tony Reinstedler.

"He had a stone bruise and kind of scared me, but everything's fine now, and he's back in training," said Reinstedler, who already is in Saratoga with eight horses he had shipped this week from Churchill.

Jockeys Lonnie Meche and Jose Verenzuela were fined $500 each by the Louisiana Downs board of stewards for an altercation in the winner's circle after the first race at the Bossier City, La., track last Sunday, July 16.

A hearing was held on Thursday, and separate rulings for each rider were issued on Friday. They state that each rider was fined for "using profanity after the running of the first race . . . which escalated into an altercation with another jockey in the winner's circle."

Costa Rising won his fifth straight race on Friday, when he cruised to an easy, two and a half length win over Chromite Solider in the $75,000 A.L. "Red" Erwin at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La. It was another nose back in third to Tommy's Turn.

The Erwin was for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana. It was run at about a mile on turf, and the course was listed as good on Friday.

It's a good thing entries for Saratoga's opening-day card next Wednesday were drawn on Friday. Handicappers will need extra time sorting through the past performances of a terrific card.

Full, competitive fields are on tap for a 10-race card highlighted by the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes for juvenile fillies at six furlongs. The New York Racing Association brought back the Schuylerville after having canceled it in 2005. This year, NYRA has restored the juvenile stakes schedule to three races in both the male and female divisions.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Park Avenue Ball heads a strong field in the $70,000 Skip Away Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park. A 1 1/16-mile race, the Skip Away is the prep for the meet's main event for older runners on the main track, the Grade 3, $250,000 Philip Iselin Handicap Aug. 19.

The Iselin has long been on the radar screen for Park Avenue Ball, a New Jersey-bred 4-year-old who has won 1 of 3 starts this year.

"Our hopes are to run here, run well, come back good, and think about the Iselin," said trainer Jim Ryerson.