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.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The learning curve continues at Monmouth Park as management and the maintenance crew seek the right balance for the new turf course that debuted in June.

The weather was very hot last weekend, and course records fell as horses ran exceptionally fast.

MIAMI - Opportunities in the handicap division for fillies and mares going two turns on dirt are few and far between in south Florida during the summer and fall. That makes it all the more surprising that just six horses signed on for Sunday's $80,000 Nancy's Glitter Handicap, one of only two route races over the main track on the stakes schedule for the division through the end of the Calder meet on Oct. 16.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Jockey Carlos Gonzalez took time out of his riding schedule this winter to work on a movie about Ruffian and to visit his family in Puerto Rico. The change of pace served him well.

Gonzalez came out swinging at the start of the Louisiana Downs meet in May, jumping to the top of the jockey standings, and on Thursday he padded his lead by going 4 for 7.

Now, the countdown is on to his 2,000th career win. Gonzalez was at 1,986 going into the races Friday.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Bret Calhoun has won a meet-best 13 races for 2-year-olds at Lone Star Park, and on Sunday he could add to his total when he starts Devils Warrior in a competitive running of the $65,000 Middleground Breeders' Cup.

The six-furlong race will close out the meet. Among the nine colts and geldings in the field are Real Quiet Man, a sharp maiden winner for trainer Cole Norman; Mary's Gray Boy, who is stakes-placed; and Eldon's Effort, an impressive debut winner here July 9.

AUBURN, Wash. - Chestnut Lady heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's $65,000 Kent Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Emerald Downs.

AURORA, Colo. - All seven entrants in Sunday's $25,000-added Colorado Derby have yet to be tested at the 1 1/16-mile distance, making it an interesting handicapping affair. Favoritism will likely be split between a pair of recent stakes winners here in Skip's Bet, winner of the Ruffian Handicap, and Sunday Romeo, the Inaugural Handicap winner.

A $60,000 purse may sound like a modest amount of money for a restricted stakes. But it's a potential big payday for the group of Virginia-breds entered for Sunday's Punch Line at Colonial Downs.

The five-furlong turf stakes drew a field of eight, including one coupled entry. All of them are still eligible for a first-level allowance, and among the three multiple winners, their highest achievement has been to capture a conditioned claiming race.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - An interesting group of former jockeys accepted Woodbine's invitation to appear at Thursday's ceremonial draw for the inaugural Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf.

Sandy Hawley, Robin Platts, Larry Attard, and Hugo Dittfach, all of whom are enshrined in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, were joined by Bobby Cormack, Lloyd Duffy, John LeBlanc, Richard Grubb, and Sam McComb

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jambalaya is closely inbred to the legendary Northern Dancer, and it is only fitting that he looms a serious contender in the inaugural running of the $700,000 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf on Sunday.

The Grade 2 Northern Dancer is the feature on a fine 11-race card, which will commemorate Woodbine's 50th anniversary. The first 1,000 customers will receive a set of the 2006 Woodbine trading cards collection.