Between physical problems and having to face tough opposition, fate has been unkind to Please Lord, the likely favorite Thursday at the Alameda County Fair in a $12,500 claiming race for those who have not won two races. The six-furlong race attracted six fillies and mares.

No one who saw when she began her career as a 3-year-old in April of 2004 would have pictured her running for this type of claiming tag. She came within a neck of beating the talented Madrone in an allowance race in her debut. Madrone ran third in the Stanford in her next start.

LOUISVILE, Ky. - Murch needed 10 starts to win his first race, but he might need only one more start to win his second. After winning his maiden on turf at Churchill Downs on May 26, when he earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure, Murch is favored to win his second straight race Thursday in the featured eighth race at Churchill Downs, a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Weather permitting, Diabolical will make his first start since the Preakness on Thursday at Monmouth Park in a $40,000 second-level allowance race on the turf.

The one-mile contest drew a full field of nine with two also-eligibles. Monmouth's new turf course already absorbed a lot of rain over the weekend, with more showers predicted this week.

Trainer and co-owner Steve Klesaris will reconsider the race for Diabolical if it comes off the turf.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Proven Cure, a 12-year-old who has won 3 of 4 starts this year, returned to training on Tuesday at Lone Star Park after being freshened.

Proven Cure won two optional claiming races at Sam Houston Race Park in January

and February, then finished second, beaten a nose, in the $50,000 Turf Sprint Cup there in March. In his most recent start, Proven Cure won the $40,000 Littlebitlively as the favorite at five furlongs on turf at Lone Star on April 22.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer John Ross didn't get a chance to participate in the Queen's Plate here at Woodbine Sunday after Well Whoopdeedoo, a promising Canadian-bred 3-year-old, wound up on the shelf. But Ross still experienced his best Queen's Plate Day ever as he registered a major upset in the $200,800 Highlander with Marco Be Good.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - If Sir Blitz is in the entries, then there must be rain on the way. Sir Blitz should be prominent in Thursday's Woodbine headliner, a $62,500 optional claimer, but only if it remains on the grass, and there are showers in the forecast for Thursday.

Sir Blitz was entered in two six-furlong turf races here this spring, and got stuck running in both of them when they were taken off the grass. Predictably, he finished far back on each occasion, against the likes of stakes winners Dave the Knave and Sophia's Prince.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer John Ward believes has a world of talent yet to be tapped. A 3-year-old chestnut colt, Dr. Pleasure gets a chance to showcase that ability Wednesday at Belmont Park, where he makes his second start of the season in a $46,000 first-level allowance. A one-mile race, the allowance also has an optional claiming price of $75,000.

Ward said he believes that of all the 3-year-olds in his barn, Dr. Pleasure will prove the best over the long run.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Making his second start following a layoff of more than six months, figures to improve in Wednesday's featured eighth race at Churchill Downs, a $54,000 first-level allowance at a mile on dirt.

Although he prevailed off a 186-day layoff May 25, winning his first race in the third start of his career, At the Knees did so over relatively weak opponents who have largely struggled in subsequent starts.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Three longshots on Sunday, including Queen's Plate winner Edenwold, triggered a pick-seven carryover of $79,450 heading into Wednesday's Woodbine card.

The pick seven comprises races 2 through 8, a sequence that has many full and competitive fields.

Indian Bay should be favored in the second, a $10,000 claimer for nonwinners of two, off his second-place finish under identical conditions June 7. If the track is favoring speed, however, as it often does on Wednesday nights, then Indian Bay could be up against it.

The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., opens Wednesday with the most ambitious stakes schedule on the northern California fair circuit.

Four $50,000 stakes races will be offered, along with a fifth at $40,000-added. In addition to the five Thoroughbred stakes, two Quarter Horse and three Arabian stakes are being offered. The 10 stakes in the 11-day meeting, which runs through July 9, are the most offered on the fair circuit.