HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Lawyer Ron is attempting to go into the Kentucky Derby unbeaten on dirt, and post position should not be an obstacle for him Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million after he drew gate 5 in a field of 14.

Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race were drawn Wednesday.

Lawyer Ron was installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite because of a record that includes five wins on dirt in his last five starts, among them the Grade 3, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn and the Grade 3, $250,000 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - With favored Dubai Escapade possessing sharp early speed, and with no other pace in the race, the decisions for jockey Edgar Prado, trainer Eoin Harty, and the 8,641 who came to Keeneland on Wednesday for the Grade 2, $200,000 were fairly obvious.

Dubai Escapade jumped immediately to the front and led from start to finish in the seven-furlong race, prevailing by 4 3/4 lengths to record the first stakes victory of her career.

Kid Grindstone closed with a rush through the stretch to catch Arch Hall and Greater Good and win the Grade 3, $100,000 Fifth Season Breeders' Cup by a length at Oaklawn Park on Wednesday. Arch Hall, the even-money favorite, held second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Greater Good.

Pat Pope, who has been the racing secretary at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., since 1985, confirmed Wednesday that he is no longer with the track. An official from Harrah's, which owns Louisiana Downs, said Pope tendered his resignation on Tuesday.

"He resigned his position to pursue other opportunities," said Mark Midland, the vice president of racing operations for Louisiana Downs.

Louisiana Downs is scheduled to open a race meet on May 5, and Midland said the search process for Pope's replacement has been put on the fast track.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Are you gellin'? Showing Up, wearing a Dr. Scholl's-like device on his bruised right front foot, was gellin' like a 3-year-old smellin' the roses on Wednesday morning.

The idea that less means more is the guiding principle this year at Ohio's three Thoroughbred racetracks, including River Downs in Cincinnati, which opens its 2006 meet Friday.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The northern Ohio racing season begins Friday when Thistledown opens its 156-day racing season. The meet will continue through Nov. 27.

This year's schedule has been reduced by 31 days from last year, leading to a 24-percent increase in overnight purses from $62,600 to $78,000 a day.

John Davila Jr. and Chris Englehart, the dominant rider and trainer, respectively, for the past several years at Finger Lakes, will be prominent again when the western New York track begins its 45th season on Friday afternoon.

The 160-day meet, which will run through Nov. 28, features 17 stakes worth an estimated $1.25 million.

Davila will be shooting for his fifth consecutive riding title at the Farmington track after finishing with 153 winners last season, including the 2000th of his career on Nov. 11.

Fresh off a four-length wire-to-wire victory on March 30, Take D' Tour looks tough to beat coming back off short rest in Friday's fourth race at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by David Fawkes, Take D' Tour is actually dropping slightly in class from her blowout victory 15 days earlier. The conditions that day were for three-other-than allowance horses with a claiming option of $250,000. Friday's race is at the same allowance condition with a claiming option of $60,000.

If it's early winter and you happen to be a person with a talented 3-year-old racehorse, and if that racehorse shows even a trace of an affinity for dirt racing, that 3-year-old will be given a chance to become a dirt horse. It's not just Kentucky Derby fever. There are plenty of plump purses scattered throughout the country - every track worth its salt wants to have its own derby - and even a horse a couple of notches below the best in his class can make a lot of money at 3.