ELMONT, N.Y. - Afleet Alex took his first serious steps toward a return to the races by galloping 1 1/2 miles Friday morning at Belmont Park, his most strenuous exercise since sustaining a condylar fracture in his left foreleg in late July.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A drop into restricted company, the prospect of a fast pace, and a return to Belmont Park could help get back in the winner's circle when she faces seven New York-bred filly and mare sprinters in Sunday's $100,000 Schenectady Handicap.

Keesler had reeled off four consecutive wins before she ran in the Proud Puppy Stakes at Finger Lakes, in which she had to check and alter course in the stretch. She re-rallied to finish third.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Richard Schosberg went into last month's West Point Handicap feeling very confident in his chances with Sicilian Boy. But when blew the first turn, he forced another horse into Sicilian Boy, who ended up tearing a suspensory ligament and is out indefinitely.

POMONA, Calif. - Bengal Lore, the favorite Sunday in the $120,000 Barretts Juvenile, was in tough the very first time he started.

"He ran against two of the best colts in the California," said Ted West, who trains the 2-year-old with his son, Ted H. West.

Bengal Lore finished third behind What a Song and Stevie Wonderboy in his debut, and three races later won a fast Del Mar maiden race that stamps him as the favorite Sunday at Fairplex Park.

POMONA, Calif. - Jockeys and racing officials at Fairplex Park are reviewing procedures for riders returning to the jockeys' room after a race, following an altercation Thursday involving rider Martin Pedroza and a trackside patron.

A fight erupted as Pedroza was returning to the jockeys' room after race 9. At Fairplex, jockeys typically dismount in front of the winner's circle and return to the jockeys' room by walking along the outer rail to a gate opposite the furlong pole at the top of the stretch, where they walk through the paddock and back to the room.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The seven 2-year-old colts in the second race Sunday at Bay Meadows will be trying something new - running two turns on the turf.

Only one runner in 7 1/2-furlong maiden race, Sweet Roberto, has tried two turns before, fading badly to fifth after engaging in a pace duel in a one-mile maiden race on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 25.

Only one runner, Two Trails, has set foot on the grass, and that was in a half-mile turf work Wednesday.

One runner, Ocean Melody, makes his debut as he ships north for trainer Neil Drysdale.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Joe Bravo hardly missed a beat, picking right up where he left off.

Bravo returned Sept. 4 after missing almost seven weeks with a broken collarbone and posted 11 wins in his first 23 starts back at Monmouth Park.

Bravo reunites with Comacina on Sunday in the $60,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Comacina, trained by Patrick Biancone, was Bravo's last winning mount before the July 21 spill that sent him to the sidelines.

MIAMI - The local contingent of 2-year-olds for next Saturday's $150,000 Foolish Pleasure Breeders' Cup Stakes at Calder is a good one, but the field could become even stronger if trainer Robert Barbara decides to send Winning Minister down from New York.

Winning Minister is coming off a fifth-place finish behind division leaders First Samurai and Henny Hughes in the Grade 1 Hopeful. A son of Deputy Minister, Winning Minister won his maiden two weeks earlier by three-quarters of a length going six furlongs at Saratoga.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Simply called the Speed Handicap, Sunday's feature at Louisiana Downs promises to be just that, as seven of the region's top sprinters will battle it out at six furlongs.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The king of animals is in the house and will be looking to impose his majesty over eight rivals in Sunday's $1 million Atto Mile here at Woodbine.

Leroidesanimaux - "the king of animals" in French - arrived here early Friday morning following an eight-hour van ride from Belmont Park. But rather than being greeted by the fanfare deserving of a horse of his stature, Leroidesanimaux checked in unheralded on a dull and very raining Friday morning.