DEL MAR, Calif. - At some point, the bad breaks will even out for Terroplane. He might have been second-best in last year's Del Mar Derby, but a traffic jam hindered his run and he finished fourth. He might have been best in the Wickerr Handicap here at Del Mar on July 30, but he took the worst of a chain-reaction bumping match and finished third.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The handicap division in California has been much maligned this year, but the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday at Del Mar is shaping up as a fascinating race, featuring horses who in their last start captured the Hollywood Gold Cup, Swaps Stakes, Washington Park Handicap, and San Diego Handicap.

AUBURN, Wash. - A field of 11 or 12, including defending champion Adreamisborn, is shaping up for Sunday's 70th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

Adreamisborn, who is coming off an authoritative 3 1/2-length victory in the $98,000 Joseph T. Grace Handicap at Santa Rosa on Aug. 6, will be the co-highweight at 121 pounds. Russell Baze, who will be shooting for his third straight victory in the Longacres Mile, has the call from trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jumping can wait for Frolicking Prince.

A 4-year-old, makes his first start for owner-trainer Oliver Keelan Thursday in the $39,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park, a 1 1/8-mile first-level allowance contest.

Keelan is always on the lookout for a turf runner who could eventually become a steeplechaser. He has served as a bloodstock agent in transactions involving several runners who became top-level jumpers and said he thinks he has a solid steeplechase candidate in Frolicking Prince.

CHICAGO - A lot of betting favorites are the product of a mass knee-jerk reaction. See Spot. See Spot win. Bet on Spot the next time he races.

The problem is, people are very often playing a losing game of catch-up. The horse's form is moving faster than their wager. The winning day has passed before the play can be made.

Rockingham Park has combined efforts with several casino companies to develop a plan to renovate the racetrack and bring back Thoroughbred racing as long as the state legislature allows the track to operate slot machines, track officials announced Tuesday.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has a horse in mind for the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Oct. 1, but it's not the horse many might expect.

Asmussen sent out Real Dandy to win the Grade 3, $750,000 on Sunday and said Tuesday that Real Dandy is being pointed for the Grade 2, $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 5.

Leading Spirit, undefeated and already a three-time Grade 1 futurity winner, seeks to qualify for the $1.9 million All American Futurity when he runs in the 13th of 16 440-yard trials on Thursday at Ruidoso Downs.

If can win the Grade 1 All American and collect the $1 million winner's share of the purse, he would also earn a $4 million bonus for sweeping the Ruidoso, Rainbow, and All American futurities, the triple crown for Quarter Horses. In winning his first seven starts, Leading Spirit has earned $694,616.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Questions abound regarding Thursday's Woodbine feature, a nonwinners-of-three allowance for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.

Will Fury Stakes winner River Nore snap out of her slump? Can On Silent Wings stretch her blazing speed out to 6 1/2 furlongs? Is the race too short for Bold Little Lass? Will Versionofthetruth be able to take her game to the next level?

AUBURN, Wash. - Do's Buckshot will be heavily favored to notch his sixth win from seven starts at the Emerald Downs meeting on Thursday when he heads a field of seven in the 1 1/8-mile feature, which will be run under $3,500 starter handicap conditions.