PORTLAND, Ore. - My Friend Dave lost his first three starts at Portland Meadows last season, but once he started winning he didn't stop. As a 5-year-old, he ran off three straight stakes wins before dropping a heartbreaking nose decision to Demon Warlock in the climactic Portland Meadows Mile, and his exploits earned horse of the meeting honors.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Tamper will shoot for a third straight stakes win on Saturday when he heads a seven-horse field in the one-mile, $7,500 Tall Ben Invitational Handicap at Portland Meadows.

The 6-year-old Tamper, who races for David Green, is coming off front-running scores in the one-mile Polynesian Flyer Invitational Handicap and the 1 1/16-mile William Kyne Handicap, both in November. Regular rider Jose Zunino is again expected to put Tamper on the lead, and it will be a question of whether he can hang on while carrying high weight of 122 pounds.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will saddle likely favorite Halo Cat as Hollendorfer seeks to extend his winning streak in northern California stakes races in Saturday's $60,000-added San Carlos Handicap at Bay Meadows.

Hollendorfer has won the last seven stakes run in northern California, dating back to Nov. 25. He has won the last 11 northern California stakes in which he has had a starter, dating back to Oct. 15.

When a horse dominates her rivals in the manner that Hot Storm has ruled the filly-mare sprint division in recent months at Turfway Park, it doesn't make sense for horses to keep coming at her in droves.

And yet an overflow field awaits Hot Storm, an emphatic winner of her last three races, in the $50,000 Wishing Well Stakes on Saturday. The six-furlong Wishing Well is the highlight of a 12-race card at Turfway in Florence, Ky.

When Latenite Band upset fellow New Mexico-breds in the Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park on Dec. 18, it was considered a bit of a fluke since he was almost 7-1. He will get a chance to dismiss any fluke notions Saturday, when he runs in Sunland's $125,000 Pepsi Cola Handicap at six furlongs. The Pepsi Cola has lured a field of 10, and Latenite Band will carry high weight of 121 pounds.

It's not often the West Coast's two highest-ranked contenders for the Kentucky Derby meet in a stakes race in January, but it's not often the West Coast has a crop as deep as it does this year.

ARCADIA, Calif. - For a gelding making his stakes debut, Wanna Runner will face a severe test in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Wanna Runner enters the race on a two-race winning streak, but must face Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Stevie Wonderboy and Hollywood Futurity winner Brother Derek in the one-mile San Rafael.

"We'll find out if he fits," Baffert said. "He's a fighter. I know that when he'll look a horse in the eye, he'll fight them off. That's half the battle right there."

ARCADIA, Calif. - Osidy, the winner of the Grade 3 Will Rogers Stakes at Hollywood Park last month, will start this weekend at Santa Anita.

Whether he starts in a $60,000 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Friday or the $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt on Saturday will be decided before Friday.

Trainer Richard Mandella has the San Fernando as a main goal, but entered Osidy in Friday's race when it was offered as a late addition to the card.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ten of the 12 3-year-old fillies entered in Friday's $33,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park are coming off their maiden wins. The problem is trying to figure out which one will exit the race with a two-race winning streak.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The Fair Grounds meet might have been uprooted and lifted to Louisiana Downs by Hurricane Katrina, but Churchill Downs Inc. has not changed its business plan. CDI racetracks all trot out full-tilt multi-stakes days during their seasons, and the biggest one at the displaced Fair Grounds meet comes Saturday.