Julien Leparoux still is an apprentice jockey, which means he hasn't watched as many races as some of the grizzled veteran riders on this circuit. But as the field for the Crown Royal American Turf turned down the Churchill Downs backstretch, Leparoux could see all five of his rivals from his seat aboard Stream Cat, and he knew he was watching something good.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Stream Cat, unraced since an eighth-place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile on dirt, wore down favored Go Between in deep stretch to take Friday's Grade 3, $100,000 Crown Royal American Turf by one-half length.

Gaelic Storm finished third.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Todd Pletcher was being posed for photos with Emirate Airlines hostesses, asked for television interviews, barraged with reporters' and publicists' questions Friday. He did find time to win half of the first eight races on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Pletcher won the first, fourth and fifth races, and it wasn't enough to have Oonagh Maccool score a decisive victory in race 8, the Grade 2, $271,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap. He also sent out second-place La Reason, with three entries still left on the card.

The Arlington Park stakes schedule is just about the same in 2006 as previous years, but opening weekend boasts a new race on the calendar, and based on the entries alone, consider the first running of the Avers Wexler Stakes a success.

The Wexler, named for a prominent local owner, offers a $100,000 purse and is open only to Illinois-owned horses, but despite that fairly severe restriction the race has drawn one of the more solid fields of older horses recently seen here this side of the Arlington Million.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A better start led to a better finish for Man of Illusion in Friday's Grade 3 at Churchill Downs.

After breaking slowly and encountering tons of trouble when third in the Shakertown at Keeneland last month, Man of Illusion broke much better under Julien Leparoux, stalked a hot pace, and was able to wear down a game Justice for Auston by a head. It was three-quarters of a length back to Atticus Kristy in third.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Gouldings Green won a prolonged stretch duel with Wild Desert to win the $100,000 by a short head.

It was well back to Andromeda's Hero in third.

Gouldings Green, a 5-year-old son of Charismatic, covered 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.37 and returned $5 as the favorite. Gouldings Green is owned by Eugene and Laura Melnyk and trained by Anthony Reinstedler.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Todd Pletcher isn't sure that blinkers have made the difference with Magnificent Song, but the trainer not about to mess with success. On Friday, Magnificent Song won her second straight race since adding blinkers when she captured the $114,900 for 3-year-old turf fillies at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As expected, a fast early pace developed in Thursday's $113,600 Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs. It just proved to have little effect on those establishing the fractions.

Unbridled Sidney and Very Vegas, the two early leaders, dominated the Mamzelle, a five-furlong turf dash, with the former edging past the latter in the final stride to notch a nose victory. Unbridled Sidney paid $9.80.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Steve Asmussen figured to be the central figure Thursday in the at Churchill Downs - and he was. The veteran trainer ran four of the 12 starters in the five-furlong race for 2-year-olds and not only wound up with the winner and third-place finisher, but also a colt who finished a courageous sixth after narrowly averting disaster at the start.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Among the many questions facing horseplayers in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard is whether to back the horse expected to have the easiest trip, English Channel, or the one coming off the worst trip, Cacique.