MIAMI - The Maryland My Maryland Stakes proved to be a cakewalk for A.J. Melini after he was able to control all the pace in the 1 3/16-mile overnight race. But Saturday's 1 1/2-mile New York New York Stakes at Calder may turn out to be more difficult for A.J. Melini, the likely favorite, who is not expected to make the lead so easily this time around.

The New York New York shares top billing on Saturday's 13-race program with the Heckofaralph Stakes, carded at five furlongs on the turf. Each race carries a $45,000 purse.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - As perhaps the nation's most accomplished 2-year-old, Datrick was already a logical favorite to win Saturday's colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park. But after a Tuesday night barn fire in New Mexico killed his sire, 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick, he will also be a sentimental favorite for the race.

The TTA Sales Futurity is to be run in two divisions, with the other race on the card for fillies. Both divisions are at five furlongs and have an estimated purse of $100,000.

Rare is the stakes race carded at 1 1/2 miles on dirt, and eclectic is the cast assembled for the 1 1/2-mile Point Given Stakes, which is featured on a 12-race card Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Lower-level stakes at Monmouth sometimes fail to fill, but the track made two of them go Saturday: Besides the $60,000 Point Given, the 12-race card also includes the $60,000 Spruce Fir for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares at one mile and 70 yards.

Canterbury Park fans will be treated to what should be a memorable edition of the $50,000 Brooks Fields Stakes on Saturday when millionaire Full Moon Madness faces local legend Dontbotherknocking and 10 other rivals over 7 1/2 furlongs of turf.

Full Moon Madness, an 11-year old California-bred gelding, has won or placed in stakes in nearly every season since he began racing in 1997. Full Moon Madness's stakes resume includes victories in the California Cup Sprint, the Bay Meadows Express, and two victories each in the Robert Kerlan Memorial and Valiant Pete handicaps.

The $50,000 Regret Stakes, the first stakes of the Great Lakes Downs 2006 meet, brings together nine 3-year-old fillies, including three of the top juveniles from last year. Easy Ellie, the Michigan Sire Stakes champion, will face Fiji Island, a two-time local stakes winner, and Charedi's Peak, winner of the Michigan Juvenile Fillies.

Easy Ellie, from the barn of leading trainer Bob Gorham, has raced just once this year. After an awkward start, she was fifth in an optional claimer against older filly and mares.

Kingsfield rates a slight edge in a competitive field of seven 3-year-olds in the $50,000 Prairie Mile at Prairie Meadows.

Kingsfield is the only multiple stakes winner entered in the Prairie Mile and the only horse with a stakes win around two turns by virtue of his 5 1/2-length score in the $75,000 Sugar Bowl at Louisiana Downs on New Year's Day.

In his most recent start, Kingsfield rallied from last at the top of the stretch in a field of six to finish second, beaten a half-length, in the six-furlong Shecky Greene Handicap at Arlington on May 5.

Track Hero should rule a solid favorite when he heads a field of eight, including his stablemate My Halo, in the $20,000 State Fair Breeders' Special for 3-year-old Nebraska-breds at Lincoln.

Trainer David Anderson ran Track Hero and My Halo as a coupled entry in their last race, but they will go as separate betting interests this time and either horse could easily be the winner. Track Hero has won four times this year, but he was fourth to My Halo in the Fonner Park Special in April and has not gone beyond six furlongs.

Here Tiger and Chief What It Is are quick colts who have proven to be difficult to run down when on the lead. Saturday, the two will meet for the first time in the $50,000 Airline, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.

A competitive field of six went in the race, which will go as the sixth. Other entrants include Premier Dance, a five-time stakes winner making his first start since April, and Muni High Yield, whose ability to stalk could serve him well if a duel were to develop.

Cherokee's Boy can achieve millionaire status even if he doesn't repeat last year's victory in the Brandywine Stakes at Delaware Park.

The 6-year-old needs to finish third or better in Saturday's $100,000 stakes at 1 1/16 miles to surpass the million-dollar milestone in career earnings.

A Maryland-bred based at the Bowie Training Center with trainer Gary Capuano, Cherokee's Boy wired six rivals in last year's Brandywine, the first of five stakes victories during 2005, which was highlighted by a 1 1/4-length win in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park.

Trickle of Gold, one of the East Coast's top female sprinters, will be a solid favorite to win her third straight start in the $75,000 Skipat for filly and mare sprinters on closing day at Pimlico.

The 4-year-old Trickle of Gold, based at Delaware with trainer Mike Gorham, set a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs there a month ago and came back two weeks later to capture the six-furlong Sweet 'n Sassy Stakes.

The six-furlong distance of the Skipat is ideal for Trickle of Gold, who is 7 for 9 in sprints of similar length.