SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won each of the last six stakes races in northern California, and he could make it seven straight when he sends out Heavenly Humor and Teeming in Saturday's $60,000-added Soviet Problem Handicap at Bay Meadows.

, a multiple stakes winner who has 5 wins and 1 second in 7 starts at Bay Meadows, is the one to beat in the six-furlong stakes, which attracted seven fillies and mares. She has won her last four starts here, including three stakes.

Hevenly Humor drew post 6 and Teeming the rail.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Trainer Jonathan Nance sends out a powerful entry of Cascades Express and Lawanda in Saturday's $10,000 Mt. St. Helens Stakes at a mile, which has drawn a field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

Drill Hall is among a solid field of eight scheduled to run Saturday in the Peninsula Gaming's Lucky Dog Stakes, the premier race for older horses at Evangeline Downs. The one-mile race for 4-year-olds and up carries a $75,000 purse.

Boosted by a record-setting Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and a new turf course at Laurel Park, handle figures for Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park in Maryland increased in 2005 from 2004, according to figures released on Thursday by the Maryland Jockey Club, the owner of the two tracks.

Total wagering on races at Pimlico and Laurel was $499.8 million in 2005, compared with $485.2 million in 2004, an increase of 3 percent, according to figures provided by the MJC. The Maryland racing calendar had two fewer live racing days in 2005 than 2004, the MJC said.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Rock Hard Ten is retired. Congrats is about a month away from a comeback. So, trainer Richard Mandella, who dominated the stakes races for older horses at Santa Anita one year ago, is searching for replacements.

Mandella last year won the San Pasqual Handicap, Strub Stakes, and Santa Anita Handicap. He will take aim at this year's San Pasqual on Saturday with two runners, Spellbinder and Turnbolt, both of whom are racing in good form but have yet to win a graded stakes race.

Bettors didn't notice Skeleton Crew when he made his debut at Turfway Park on Dec. 11, but he soon made his presence felt. Dismissed at odds of over 25-1, Skeleton Crew dueled for the lead, turned back a pair of challenges on the turn, and drew clear in the stretch to win by 5 3/4 lengths.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Travelator, who lost her rider at the start of the Garland of Roses at Aqueduct in her most recent start, heads a well-matched field of 12 older fillies and mares in the $60,000 Minaret Stakes at six furlongs Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

will be making her first start for trainer Kathleen O'Connell. Travel-ator faces several strong challengers, including Emerald Earrings, a stakes-placed runner in middle-distance stakes last season who is shifting back to a sprint, and Running Bobcats, who won the Sophomore Fillies Stakes here on Florida Cup Day last meet.

Rather than risk running his unbeaten filly Celestial Legend over a muddy track in the one-mile Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship on Dec. 26, trainer Dale Capuano chose to scratch her.

Instead of stretching out for the first time, now will stick to sprinting as the heavy favorite in Saturday's $75,000 Marshua Stakes at Laurel Park. The 5 1/2-furlong race drew a field of seven 3-year-old fillies, including three stakes winners.

Skip and Go attempts to defend his title in Saturday's $50,000 Winsham Lad Handicap at Sunland Park. The one-mile event for 3-year-olds and upward lured a field of six, and Skip and Go will carry high weight of 120 pounds.

Strategically has gone from being a mere claimer to the leading turf horse on the grounds, and he looks to affirm his status in Saturday's $40,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at Turf Paradise. The one-mile turf race, which goes as the fifth race on a nine-race card, has lured a field of nine.

The Cotton Fitzsimmons is named after the late former coach and executive of the NBA's Phoenix Suns who was also an avid horseplayer and fixture in the Turf Paradise Turf Club. Fitzsimmons's widow, JoAnn, will make the trophy presentation.