ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Always First, who accompanied Atto Mile contestant King of Happiness on his trip here from California, got in a work over Woodbine's turf training course Wednesday morning.

Always First, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Sheikh Maktoum al-Maktoum and trained by Neil Drysdale, is preparing for the Grade 2, $300,000 Sky Classic here Oct. 2.

The Sky Classic, a 1 3/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up, is the major local stakes prep for the Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International at 1 1/2 miles on turf Oct. 23.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It has been 46 years since a filly has been good enough to win the British Columbia Derby. But the connections of Monashee think she might have what it takes to beat the boys in what appears to be a wide-open renewal of the Grade 3, $250,000 British Columbia Derby on Saturday at Hastings.

AUBURN, Wash. - It was evident that trainer Bonnie Jenne was taking an edge with the 2-year-old Whosboyareyou when she ran him for a $12,500 tag in his 4 1/2-furlong debut on Sept. 2. Just how big an edge she was taking wasn't clear until he ran back on Sunday at Emerald Downs.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Courtney Bay, an unsuccessful Canadian Derby starter, heads a field of six in Friday's one-mile allowance feature for non-winners of two at Northlands Park.

A Kentucky-bred trained by Lianne Knechtel for Oxbridge Farm, Courtney Bay earned a shot at the $300,000 Canadian Derby when he was second by a neck to Forever Rascal in the Count Lathum.

Courtney Bay was prominent to the backstretch in the Canadian Derby but then faded badly to finish 11th and last.

CHICAGO - The horse that upset him last year is coming back, but that might be one of Perfect Drift's lesser concerns Saturday in the $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Despite his relative inexperience as a trainer, Daniel Franko has enjoyed quite a bit of success with turf runners. He has been winning with 17 percent of his runners on grass and they have given bettors a return of $3.94.

On Thursday, he saddles Frew in the Bay Meadows feature, a $40,000 starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the turf that attracted eight 3-year-olds and up.

Happy Ticket could be Breeders' Cup bound. Happy Ticket, a Louisiana-bred filly who improved her record to 10 for 11 last month at Saratoga when she won the Grade 1 Ballerina, is being pointed for the Grade 1 Beldame and then, perhaps, the Breeders' Cup, said her trainer, Andrew Leggio Jr.

The 1 1/8-mile Beldame will be run Oct. 1 at Belmont Park, and with a good performance, Happy Ticket would remain in New York and train up to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff at the same distance Oct. 29.

MIAMI - Hurricane Rita won't affect live racing at Calder this week but it did have an impact on training, as track officials closed both the main and training tracks on Tuesday morning. They also canceled Tuesday's simulcast card because of the storm.

Calder suffered significant damage and canceled one live racing program last month because of Hurricane Katrina.

POMONA, Calif. - The key premise of handicapping is that horses replicate their performances - they do what they have done. It's obvious stuff, until a 2-year-old race such as Thursday's $60,000 Gateway to Glory Stakes at Fairplex Park comes along.

None of the Gateway to Glory starters has raced beyond 6 1/2 furlongs; on Thursday, the six young runners stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in a race that will determine their immediate futures. Some will be limited to sprint careers; others will improve at long distances, including favorite Irish Bar.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Eight older fillies and mares from diverse backgrounds converge in Thursday's $65,000 Sky Beauty Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route on the main track for nonwinners of a stakes race this year.

, who 11 days ago gave futile chase to Breeders' Cup-bound Stellar Jayne in the Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap, takes a big class drop and looks like the logical favorite off her big-figure win at Saratoga two starts back.