INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Rising Cross, the runner-up in the English Oaks on June 2, has been bought by owner Gary Tanaka, the filly's English trainer, John Best, said Friday.

Rising Cross could be sent to the United States to race, although Best said plans for the filly beyond a scheduled start in Sunday's Italian Oaks had not been finalized. There have been discussions about running Rising Cross in the $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 2, but Best warned that she would not make the trip if the ground is firm.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Dr. Steven Seabaugh, the highly regarded state-employed veterinarian at Chicago's Thoroughbred racetracks, is vacating his position on Friday, and his departure once again leaves Chicago's tracks one vet short of what would constitute a full staff.

Seabaugh has worked as a state vet, reporting to the Illinois Racing Board, for 17 years. He has secured work in a private practice.

"It's really been a great experience," Seabaugh said. "All the people here have been wonderful."

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Miss Mary Pat has turned in two dominant wins over 2-year-old fillies this meet at Lone Star Park, and now her world is expanding. Shipped to Churchill Downs, she has numerous options for her next start, said her trainer, Steve Asmussen.

"Whether she runs back here in the Silver Spur, or runs in the Debutante there, or goes to New York, I'm just going to decide it from there," said Asmussen from Lone Star.

It hasn't taken trainer Larry Jones long to realize his decision to base his stable at Delaware Park this summer was a good move.

Since Delaware's meet opened in late April, Jones has gone 10 for 34 at Delaware to rank in a tie for sixth in the trainer standings. He has also had success shipping to New York, where his filly Hello Liberty won the Grade 2 Nassau County Breeders' Cup and finished second in the Grade 1 Acorn.

The contrasting styles of stretch-out sprinter Johnie Bye Night and deep closer S. Cherry Legacy pose an interesting scenario for handicappers in Sunday's $50,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes.

A 4-year-old, Johnie Bye Night dominated last month's six-furlong George W. Barker, earning a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure, but he has yet to race around two turns, let alone attempt the 1 1/8 miles of the Wadsworth.

A competitive field of eight 3-year olds square off in the $50,000 Come Summer Stakes, run at about one mile on the Canterbury Park turf course.

Charley Tango, owned by Stonerside Stable, makes his second start on turf in the Come Summer. Last year, Charley Tango finished second in the Arlington-Washington Futurity behind Sorcerer's Stone after winning his first two outings. Given a winter layoff after finishing sixth in the Iroquois Stakes, Charley Tango finished second in a turf allowance at Arlington on May 20, which was his season debut.

Herecomesthemannow invades from Oklahoma to challenge the speed of Hez Comin Thru in the $15,000 President's Cup Handicap at Lincoln.

Herecomesthemannow, who makes his first start of the year Sunday, met some of the top sprinters in Oklahoma last year. Herecomesthemannow won the Route 66 Stakes at Tulsa, then ran second twice at Remington, in the Silver Goblin to Zee Oh Six and in the Charles Taliaferro to The Niner Account.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Sunday's featured third-level allowance race for Louisiana-breds could go a long way in determining the immediate future of a couple of runners who appear at a crossroads.

Native Malagra and Krises Bells both have run in stakes and each could resume his quest for black type with a big effort on Sunday. With the lucrative programs of Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs over the Fourth of July holiday and the Louisiana Breeders' Festival here in August rapidly approaching, the time has come to get one last prep race in before the fireworks begin.

MIAMI - In Summation and Blazing Rate were without question the top 2-year-olds stabled in south Florida last season. Between them, the pair won 8 of 10 starts and swept all three legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes series.

But nearly halfway through their 3-year-old campaigns, not only has neither In Summation nor Blazing Rate won a race this season, both have yet to even finish in the money in a combined six starts.

AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer Bill Tollett was all smiles at his Emerald Downs barn on Wednesday morning. Spanish Highway had just worked a half-mile in a sprightly 47.20 seconds in his final prep for Sunday's $75,000 Emerald Handicap at a mile, and he was traveling soundly on the hotwalker. Just a few days earlier, Spanish Highway had been favoring a tender foot.