CHICAGO - The final shape of the Aug. 12 Arlington Million will be sculpted by decisions coming from trainers on both coasts, Todd Pletcher in New York and Neil Drysdale in California. Pletcher could run United Nations Stakes winner English Channel in the Million, or could opt to keep him in New York for the Sword Dancer at Saratoga. Drysdale could opt to run Eddie Read Handicap winner Aragorn in the Million, but said Tuesday he is more likely to point Aragorn - more a miler type - to the Del Mar Breeders' Cup Mile or the Woodbine Mile.

Lawyer Ron will return next month to Louisiana Downs, where he launched a six-race win streak last December. The Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby Sept. 23 at the Bossier City, La., track is one of three upcoming stakes objectives for the comebacking colt, according to his trainer, Bob Holthus.

"It is on our agenda," he said of the Super Derby. "We're planning on his first start being the St. Louis Derby on Aug. 26, then we're going to come back in the Super Derby, and, hopefully, the Breeders' Cup."

Considering the history of the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap, it's entirely appropriate that the 8-year-old Procreate is among the 14 older turf sprinters entered for Thursday evening's 34th running of Penn National's oldest and most prestigious stakes.

The Governor's Cup, which will be limited to 12 starters, goes as race 2 on a nine-race card.

In April 2005 at Gulfstream Park, Procreate, then trained by Penn National-based John Zimmerman, set a world record by covering five furlongs on turf in 53.79 seconds.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Trainer Ed Moger Jr. wasn't sure what to expect when Prison Bound was sent to him after more than a year on the sidelines.

He got his answer in Prison Bound's comeback, a solid 3 1/4-length victory at Solano on July 12.

Moger brings the 4-year-old gelding back in Thursday's Sonoma County Fair feature, a $25,000 optional claimer at five furlongs on the turf.

AUBURN, Wash. - Flamethrowintexan and Starbird Road each earned berths to the Aug. 20 Longacres Mile on Sunday, when they scored authoritative wins in two important preps. But while Flamethrowintexan is certain to run, Starbird Road will likely pass.

AUBURN, Wash. - Bobbie Wagner, who posted an upset win at a similar class level back in June, may be favored to repeat in Thursday's feature at Emerald Downs.

The $10,000 starter handicap for fillies and mares, at the testing distance of 1 3/16 miles, has drawn a field of seven.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2

Julien Leparoux leads the nation in races won, and the apprentice sensation had a big opening week at Saratoga. But although he won five races (unheard of for a bug rider at the Spa) at an average win mutuel of $28.40, he cost the bankroll dearly on two occasions.

Rewrite and J'ray may be the leading 3-year-old New York-bred turf fillies in training. But as offspring of Kentucky-based stallions, neither is eligible for Thursday's $150,000 Statue of Liberty Stakes, restricted to 3-year-old daughters of New York-based stallions.

That makes for a fairly wide-open feature Thursday at Saratoga. This is the fourth running of the Statue of Liberty, the first on turf. Less than half the field owns a win on the grass, and none of the 13 entrants has won at the race's 1 1/8-mile distance.

Gary Mandella will be hoping he has the long and the short of it Thursday at Del Mar. He has top contenders in the day's two richest races - a route and a sprint, both on turf - including the featured seventh, in which Mandella sends out Jazzerin, who has improved significantly since moving to Mandella's barn and to the turf.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Bernardini's spectacular nine-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes was still the talk of the backstretch here Monday morning, with everybody in complete agreement that they had witnessed a special performance from the leader of the 3-year-old division.

Among those quickest to praise Bernardini's effort were John Ward, Nick Zito, Todd Pletcher, and Jimmy Jerkens, the trainers of the five horses who gave futile chase in the Jim Dandy.