Charming Kid should have every chance to run down fading pace horses and win the featured eighth race on Thursday night at Lone Star Park.

But can take advantage of a potentially excellent race setup? Charming Kid is winless in nine starts dating back to last July, and just 2 for 13 lifetime. That win total is what allows him into the Thursday feature, a second-level allowance at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, but it is also what might make handicappers wary of firing heavily on Charming Kid, even if he does look like the best horse in a race that sets up for him.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When choosing the top star of the 2006 Gulfstream Park meeting, there are many options, such as Florida Derby winner and Kentucky Derby contender Barbaro, Donn Handicap hero and Dubai World Cup runner-up Brass Hat, or Todd Pletcher, who ran away with another training title.

But ask racing secretary Dave Bailey for his choice and the answer is easy: the Gulfstream Park turf course.

Sunland Park ended its 2005-06 meeting Sunday with a slight increase in average daily all-sources handle on the track's races. According to the track's figures, Sunland handled an average of $744,571 per day on its races for its 79-day meeting, a 1.5 percent increase over last year's average of $733,477 for an 87-day meeting.

There will be $1.3 million in retroactive purse distributions, bringing the meet total to over $22 million.

Travis Stone, a virtual unknown on the national circuit of Thoroughbred announcers, has been named as the new race-caller at Louisiana Downs, which begins its 2006 meeting May 5.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - At first glance, the only race this year for In the Gold was quite disappointing. But a deeper look reveals the filly never really had an opportunity to run her race, and handicappers should be willing to give her a second chance Wednesday when In the Gold goes off as a major contender in the $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland racing officials are expecting a field of nine or 10 horses Saturday for the Lexington Stakes, the 11th-hour prep that typically confirms a final starter or two for the Kentucky Derby two weeks later.

The most notable prospects for the $325,000 Lexington, a Grade 2 race run at 1 1/16 miles, are Showing Up, Like Now, and Sunriver.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After a disappointing winter, trainer Jason Servis has gotten off to a strong start at Aqueduct's main-track meeting, saddling three winners from his first six starters.

Servis, who went 4 for 61 over the inner track, will attempt to keep his momentum rolling Wednesday, when he sends out Rises the Phoenix in the $46,000 entry-level allowance feature at 1 1/8 miles. A field of six was entered for the race, which is the penultimate leg of a pick-six sequence that includes a $49,843 carryover.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Todd Pletcher was down Monday morning, but he certainly is not out of the Kentucky Derby picture. Not yet, anyway.

Still, Pletcher isn't sure what to make of his situation in the wake of Bluegrass Cat's 21 1/4-length loss to Sinister Minister in Saturday's at Keeneland.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Rebel Creek is indicative of the sort of horse that has helped trainer Bruce Headley have a successful meeting at Santa Anita this year.

Even with the stakes-winning sprinter Surf Cat leading the stable, Headley has had many winners in maiden and allowance races. Through Sunday, he had 15 wins from 53 starters.

, 4, beat maidens as the favorite here on March 23 and returns in an optional claimer at a mile in Wednesday's seventh race.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Miss Norman, the Southern California-based filly who finished second in the $250,000 at Oaklawn Park last Friday after running erratically in the final quarter-mile, will return in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5, owner Greg Norman said.