WINNIPEG, Manitoba - After adding a new dimension in his seasonal debut, Albarino is the horse to beat in Sunday's featured $40,000 Free Press Stakes here at Assiniboia Downs. Albarino is one of four horses who will be sent out by trainer Carl Anderson in the Free Press, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and upward.

Five of the six races Albarino won prior to the six-furlong allowance prep for the Free Press were at one mile or longer, and his only victory at less than a mile came here in a two-turn 7 1/2-furlong race.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ascot Bill didn't get much respect heading into the Plate Trial, but he raised some eyebrows by finishing second at 25-1. He will be looking to take an even bigger step forward in next Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate at 1 1/4 miles for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

On Friday, Ascot Bill worked six furlongs on the main track in 1:14.60. He ran his first three furlongs in 36.80 seconds and five furlongs in 1:01.80, before galloping out seven furlongs in 1:28 under exercise rider Darren Fortune.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Phone to the ear, trainer Nick Gonzalez exited the winner's enclosure after the customary photo was taken here at Fort Erie on Tuesday.

"When you're winning, the phone is always ringing," said Gonzalez, after hanging up. "That was Team Valor. They wanted to know if I've got room for a couple of runners."

Gonzalez had just sent a Team Valor 3-year-old filly, Waveland, to score in a seven-furlong $25,000 claimer for maidens on the turf. It was the first win by Gonzalez for Team Valor.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Joni U. Bar, a multiple stakes winner in the 1980's and the dam of the California champion McCann's Mojave, died earlier this month after a battle with colic.

Joni U. Bar was 26. She was being treated at the Winner's Circle Equine Clinic in Hemet, Calif., at the time of her death, according to owner Mike Willman.

Willman owned Joni U. Bar for the last nine years of her life, having purchased her privately from Dr. Rick Arthur, a backstretch veterinarian.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows winds up its abbreviated spring meet with a strong card Sunday.

The feature, a $62,500 optional claimer for fillies and mares at one mile, is typical of many of the races because of its depth of talent.

Strong cases can be made for each of the three 3-year-olds taking on older horses in the race

Make a Pass and Comic Queen both are stakes-placed, while Secret Scheme has three wins and a second in four career starts.

Officials of the New York Racing Association met with horsemen Friday morning regarding concerns raised by the horsemen about the condition of the main track at Belmont Park.

About three dozen trainers gathered on the track at 10:30 a.m. to meet with Charles Hayward, NYRA's president and chief executive officer; Bill Nader, senior vice president; and John Passero, the director of racing surfaces.

"There are concerns about the race track and some injuries in the morning," said trainer Phil Serpe. "We're trying to rectify the situation."

Lawyer Ron, the millionaire colt who underwent minor surgery following a 12th-place finish in the May 6 Kentucky Derby, returned Friday morning to the Churchill Downs barn of Bob Holthus after being turned out for several weeks and is scheduled to return to light training Monday or Tuesday, said Holthus.

Rising Cross, the runner-up in the English Oaks earlier this month, has been privately acquired by prominent owner Gary Tanaka, trainer John Best said Friday.

Rising Cross is entered for Sunday's Italian Oaks. There have been discussions about sending her to the United States for the $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 2, but Best warned that firm ground could prevent that trip from occurring.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - was never a factor six weeks ago in the 132nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The normally handy Private Vow got off to a slow start, then encountered a substantial amount of traffic en route to his 15th-place finish.

Those spots of trouble give license to Steve Asmussen to whine, but going into the 1 1/16-mile Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Stakes at Churchill on Saturday, the trainer isn't about to use it.

"No excuse," said Asmussen. "He didn't stay the 1 1/4-mile distance. This race Saturday, this is the distance he needs to run."

If ever the foundation was properly laid for a horse to make his stakes debut, such is the case with the 3-year-old colt Brilliant. With seven starts, including back-to-back allowance victories against older rivals since he was introduced to turf, Brilliant figures as a major player when he steps up into stakes company in the Grade 2, $200,000 Jefferson Cup (race 6).