OCEANPORT, N.J. - The New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday approved the request from Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands Racetrack to add four Thoroughbred racing dates to the 2006 schedule to replace cards lost earlier this month during the shutdown of New Jersey state government.

Monmouth picked up one day, Sept. 6. The Meadowlands picked up three days: Oct. 31, Nov. 6, and Nov. 7. The Meadowlands also got two additional harness dates: Aug. 11 and 12.

Also at the meeting, which took place at Monmouth:

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Northern Dancer never raced beyond age 3 or at 1 1/2 miles on the turf, but seven older horses look set to compete at that distance in the first running of the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf at Woodbine Sunday.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Brite Steel, just a nose away from being perfect in four starts this year, tops the $6,000 Mademoiselle Handicap for fillies and mares here at Marquis Downs on Friday.

A winner of 12 of her 36 starts, Brite Steel has three allowance wins in 2006, one each at a half-mile, six furlongs, and at Friday's seven-furlong distance. Brite Steel's only blemish on the season was when she was caught in the final strides of the six-furlong Early's Farm & Garden Handicap here June 23.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Del Mar is the kind of place that puts a smile on your face, but jockey Victor Espinoza will arrive here with one in tow. Espinoza is coming off a Hollywood Park meeting in which he was the leading rider, and he is the defending champion at Del Mar, where he has won the riding title twice in the last six years.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Opening day at Del Mar is an over-the-top affair, but on day two, the UFO's are gone, and the regulars have the run of the place. You can get into the Turf Club, you don't have to sharpen your elbows to get to the betting windows or the bar, and you won't be knocked silly by a passerby with an oversized hat on his head.

Thursday's card, a cut above the norm for a weekday, features a pair of third-level allowance races. Art Sherman, the northern California-based trainer who has a 25-horse stable at Del Mar this summer, has top chances in both races.

DEL MAR, Calif. - A clean break. That's what Mike Whittingham now says he needed. He got one over the past year. Whittingham, who trained such top horses as Breeders' Cup Classic winner Skywalker and the outstanding mare Ack's Secret, but always was in the shadow of his father, Charlie, walked away from training more than a year ago and went to work for a commercial plumbing company.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Capital Crime lacks the experience of his seven rivals in the $40,000 second-level allowance feature at six furlongs Thursday at Monmouth Park. A 4-year-old gelding, he makes only his fifth career start against horses whose resumes include 11 to 31 starts.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Midnight Shadow ($3.40) held off a charging Lucas Stretch to take Sunday's $150,400 Shady Wells Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine

Midnight Shadow broke on top in the five-furlong dash before pressing On the Podium through a rapid opening quarter in :21.24 seconds. They dueled around the turn, and Midnight Shadow assumed command through a half-mile in :44.55.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The premise for Thursday's third race at Belmont Park is simple: Auguri will get the early lead in the $58,000 optional claiming route, and his four rivals have 10 furlongs to catch him.

A higher degree of infiltration has begun. Kentucky-based trainers who have been focusing primarily on Churchill Downs will be paying more attention to Arlington Park, now that the spring meet at the Louisville, Ky., track has ended and they are in need of alternate venues.