OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gary Contessa believes Sunshine Alpine has a bright future as a two-turn horse. Contessa, Aqueduct's leading trainer this winter, just isn't sure he'll get the chance to find out first hand if he's right.

A deal to sell Sunshine Alpine to California-based owner Joseph Kowal was finalized earlier in the week. Contessa will get to saddle Sunshine Alpine one more time, in Saturday's $65,000 Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes here at six furlongs, before likely shipping him to the West.

When the field for the 132nd Kentucky Derby leaves the gate May 6, it will be with someone new as the starter. Churchill Downs on Thursday fired its longtime starter, Roger Nagle, saying a nationwide search is under way for a replacement.

A Churchill spokesman, John Asher, would not disclose the reason for Nagle's firing "as a matter of company policy in regard to personnel matters."

As for finding a successor, Asher said, "We don't have a time frame, but obviously we need someone in fairly quick order, with our spring meet starting April 29."

ALBANY, Calif. - Press Camp ($5) took command down the backstretch and scored a wire-to-wire victory in the $49,350 at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday.

The 3-year-old filly, coming off a sensational effort in which she recorded a 104 Beyer, defeated three stakes winners in the field of six, handing highly regarded Victorina her first defeat in three starts while winning the six-furlong race in 1:09.58. It was her initial stakes victory.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Only two horses left the grounds last Saturday, but the local barn area felt a lot emptier without them.

Charlie's Pride and Ballou Slew, the two most exciting performers at the meeting, shipped out for Golden Gate, and nobody could say when they might return.

ALBANY, Calif. - Robert E guns for his fifth straight victory in Saturday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $50,000 optional claimer at one mile.

A 6-year-old gelding, began his streak by winning two claiming races at Hollywood Park and was claimed out of the most recent of those for $40,000 by trainer Rene Amescua on Dec. 8. Robert E then went to Bay Meadows and scored nose victories in his next two starts, in a first-level allowance sprint Dec. 30 and a one-mile claiming race Feb. 2, when he was claimed by trainer Billy Morey for $40,000.

PORTLAND, Ore. - An evenly matched field of six 3-year-old and 4-year-old fillies will contest Saturday's best race at Portland Meadows, a 5 1/2-furlong dash for $10,000 claimers.

Horse-for-the-course , who has won his last four starts at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, will be difficult to deny in Saturday's $100,000 John B. Campbell Breeders' Cup Handicap at Laurel Park.

A 6-year-old gelding trained by Mike Trombetta, Your Bluffing's 12 victories in 17 starts at Laurel are more than the combined number of wins over the course by his five opponents in the 1 1/8-mile Campbell.

Consecutive losses have made Rocky Gulch look a little less imposing. Nevertheless, Rocky Gulch, the richest New Mexico-bred of all time, will be tough to beat as he seeks to defend his title in the $125,000 New Mexico State University Handicap on Saturday at Sunland Park.

Rocky Gulch's sudden vulnerability shows in the entries: 10 others were entered in the mile contest for 4-year-old and up New Mexico-breds.

PHOENIX - Muir Beach showed it will take more than one loss to knock her off her perch as leading filly or mare on this circuit. She lost her comeback in the Kachina Handicap but bounced right back to win the Princess of Palms, and that sends her into Saturday's $40,000 Glendale Handicap at Turf Paradise again as the horse to beat. A 5-year-old mare, Muir Beach carries high weight of 124 pounds and faces seven rivals in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was hoping for a small field and an outside post for Smokey Glacken in the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap. Jerkens wound up getting half his wish after Smokey Glacken drew post 11 in a surprisingly large field of 12 fillies and mares entered for the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie, which shares top billing at Gulfstream Park on Saturday with the $100,000 Sabin Handicap.