ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - How could you describe a season during which a horse owner sent two undefeated colts to the Kentucky Derby? A season when one of those colts won the Derby with an electrifying performance, and then, two weeks later, in the crush of Triple Crown stardom, broke his leg yards into the Preakness Stakes, touching off a equine-hospital drama that is still unfolding. Is it a brilliant year? Tragic?

Or just unfathomably strange?

"That's probably a good way to term it," said Roy Jackson, who with his wife, Gretchen, has owned horses for 30 years.

CHICAGO - Trainer Graham Motion mostly cleared up one mystery Tuesday, saying Better Talk Now was all but certain to come to Chicago for Saturday's Arlington Million. The mystery of who Todd Pletcher will send to the Million, English Channel or Go Deputy, is ongoing, though Arlington racing officials believe they are getting one of the two.

But how to explain this mystery: Ace, one of the top contenders in the Million, is coming up on the two-year anniversary of his last victory.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In three of his last four starts, Gold and Roses has faced a Grade 1 stakes winner. Trainer Tom Bush was hoping Thursday's $70,000 John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga would offer some much-needed class relief.

While Big Apple Daddy may not be in the class of a Funny Cide, Flower Alley, or Commentator, he still offers a huge challenge for Gold and Roses in the Morrissey, a 6 1/2-furlong stakes restricted to New York-breds. The Morrissey drew a field of five.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Not too many horses come back from ankle surgery to race against the best of their division at age 10. But not too many horses are Hirapour.

, the Eclipse Award-winning steeplechaser of 2004, is poised to add to his glittering resume when he makes his first start of the year on Thursday in the Grade 2, $75,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher is still not sure where he's going to run English Channel on Saturday, but the possibility that English Channel will head to the Arlington Million has caused trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. to put Wild Desert on turf for the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga the same day.

Wild Desert, owned by Dan Borislow, most recently was second to Invasor in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park. The 1 1/2-mile Sword Dancer will be his fourth start on turf.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The careers of Film Fortune and Unrivaled Song have developed in strikingly different ways.

has one victory in 11 starts and has run in four stakes. Unrivaled Song won his only start last month at Hollywood Park.

Their career paths cross for the first time on Thursday in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar. Both need a win to be considered for the $400,000 Del Mar Derby over the same course and distance on Sept. 3.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Two weeks after he revived his career with a dramatic win in the San Diego Handicap, Giacomo is on course for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20. He worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Tuesday at Del Mar, a work that left trainer John Shirreffs enthusiastic about his chances later this month.

Shirreffs did not have that opinion of Giacomo in late June and early July.

"He's training very well right now. That's a plus," Shirreffs said. "For awhile, he was stuck at five-eighths. He's got his foundation under him now."

AUBURN, Wash. - Natural Touch drops into a likely spot for his first win of the season on Thursday, when he heads a field of eight older sprinters in the six-furlong feature for $15,000 claimers at Emerald Downs.

Multiple stakes-winning sprinters Gold Storm and Rodeo's Castle have each moved into Louisiana Downs in the last couple of weeks. Gold Storm set up shop late last month, following the close of Lone Star Park. Rodeo's Castle has been here a week, after taking a vacation following a campaign at Prairie Meadows.

Both have stakes objectives, and Gold Storm is on deck first. He is being pointed for the $150,000 Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park on Aug. 26, a race he won in 2004.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Jason Servis sends out in the $53,000 second-level allowance feature for New Jersey-breds Thursday at Monmouth Park.

Either one would be a prime contender in the six-furlong race. As an entry, the tandem looks very solid, especially when the jockeys are factored into the handicapping equation.

Leading rider Joe Bravo has the return call on West Long Branch. Chuck Lopez, third in the standings, will be back up on Skip Along Jet.

The only point of vulnerability with West Long Branch is a two-month layoff.