ALTOONA, Iowa - Six Thoroughbred stakes highlight Iowa Classic Night, an all-statebred stakes card on Saturday.

The evening's feature is the $75,000-added Ralph Hayes at 1 1/16 miles for older colts and geldings. The vastly improved Sur Sandpit is the upset selection in the Hayes, which drew a field of 11, including two entries.

Sur Sandpit has turned the corner since being claimed for $15,000 by trainer Suzanne Evans on May 28. Up to that point, Sur Sandpit had failed to hit the board in any of his five starts in 2005. Since the claim he has won three of his five starts.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Zarb's Dahar, winner of his last seven races over the Louisiana Downs main track, puts that winning streak on the line in Saturday's Folklore Handicap. Seven of the region's top sprinters will line up in the 6 1/2-furlong headliner, which carries a $50,000 purse.

One could make a case that Humor at Last was the best Illinois-bred 2-year-old colt of 2004. Last fall at Hawthorne, he won his career debut by seven lengths, won the $90,000 Sun Power Stakes by more than two, and was second by a half-length in the Jim Edgar Futurity, his two-turn debut, after going too fast early in the race.

Thoughtuwasatoad, a 7 1/2-length winner of the Capital City Futurity at Lincoln last month, should rule a solid favorite when he faces seven others, including his stablemate, in the $10,000 Club House Special for 2-year-olds going six furlongs.

Tickin' Okie is a member of a speedy family, and she could be its second stakes winner on the day. Tickin' Okie will start as one of the favorites in the $40,000 Black Mesa at Remington Park, which will be run just hours after her dam's brother, That Tat, attempts to win his third $50,000 Folklore at Louisiana Downs.

Ready Ruler will return to the turf course of his biggest career win for the $40,000 Jim Bowie Stakes at Retama Park.

A 7 1/2-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds, the Jim Bowie drew a well-matched field of eight, including stakes winners Major League and War Bridle.

Ready Ruler became a stakes winner last year at Retama, when he captured the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven. Since the race, he has been second in the $100,000 Middle-ground Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park, third in the $100,000 Bourbon County at Keeneland, and third in the $42,000 Awad at Arlington Park.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Out From Africa, who invades Northlands Park from Ontario, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 76th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby at 1 3/8 miles.

Out From Africa, a British Columbia-bred trained by John Ross, will have post 5 in a field of 11, which also includes an invader from Vancouver, Alabama Rain. Trained by Lance Giesbrecht for owner Peter Redekop, Alabama Rain also is a British Columbia-bred. He was installed as the 5-2 second favorite and will break from post 4.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Soaring Free will try to avenge his shocking recent loss in the restricted Ontario Jockey Club Stakes in the Grade 2 Play the King Handicap on Saturday at Woodbine.

The $230,800 event, a major prep for the Grade 1 Atto Mile on Sept. 18, has lured a strong 13-horse field set to go seven furlongs on the grass.

AUBURN, Wash. - Itstufftobe-good will carry a steadying 126 pounds when he shoots for his fifth straight win in Saturday's third leg of the Harley H. Hoppe and Associates Marathon Champion Series, which will be run under $10,000 starter handicap conditions at 1 1/2 miles.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Langara Lass looks like a standout in the $40,000 Lassie Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hastings Saturday. Not only is she the lone stakes winner in the race, but the 6 1/2-furlong sprint should set up perfectly for her.

Langara Lass made a strong late run in the stretch to win the 6 1/2-furlong Timber Music Stakes July 9, and with four speed horses lined up against her, she figures to be tough to handle if she makes a similar move in the Lassie.