EDMONTON, Alberta - Avoiding a rematch with Sixthirtyjoe in the Spangled Jimmy on Saturday, the Robert Kingston-trained Hot Talk seems to have found a softer spot in a $40,000 optional claiming sprint Sunday at Northlands Park.

Owned by J & G Murphy Holdings, Hot Talk raced forwardly last out in the Journal Handicap and gained the lead entering the stretch only to yield to the charging Sixthirtyjoe right at the wire. The 4-year-old Hot Talk retains the services of jockey Perry Winters in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong race.

AUBURN, Wash. - Last year's local 2-year-old filly champ and the leader of this year's 3-year-old filly set will square off in Sunday's $60,000 Kent Handicap. A Classic Life and Queenledo are among a field of 10 3-year-old fillies in the 1 1/16-mile Kent.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Few people outside of Europe have heard of or seen Im Spartacus. If his connections stick to their plan, North American racing fans will have their fill of the 3-year-old gelding over the next two weeks.

Im Spartacus arrived in New York earlier this week and is entered to run in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Lexington Stakes at Belmont Park. Should things go well, Im Spartacus could wheel back in next Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap. If that works out, Im Spartacus would ship to Arlington Park for the Grade 2, $250,000 American Derby on July 23.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Neil Drysdale has sometimes abandoned racing his stable on turf late in the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, because he was concerned about the condition of the course.

"We'd say, 'That's it. We won't run any more horses,' " he said Friday while observing training.

Satan's Code ran the best race of his 19-start career in last year's W. Meredith Bailes Memorial Stakes, winning by 5 1/2 lengths and earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

But when the now 7-year-old Satan's Code returns to Colonial Downs for the first time since his high-water mark to defend his title in the $60,000 Bailes on Sunday, he may be a mere shadow of his old self.

Non-competitive in 2 of 3 starts this year, Satan's Code was unable to win even when trainer Scott Lake dropped him all the way to the $20,000 claiming level last time out at Philadelphia Park.

Five years ago, trainer John Servis won the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga with Jostle, a 3-year-old filly owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm. A year later, Servis and Porter struck gold again with another 3-year-old filly, Zonk, who won the Delaware Oaks.

This summer, Servis and Porter have a legitimate shot at sweeping the $500,000 Delaware Oaks and the $750,000 Alabama with their lightly raced filly Round Pond.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Heavy rain started in the wee hours and continued right through the afternoon Friday at Monmouth Park.

Training ended an hour early, with the last horse off the track at 9 a.m., and the two races slated for the turf were switched to the sealed and sloppy main track.

Friday was also entry day for the $55,000 John McSorley Stakes on Sunday, and weather directly impacted the field for the five-furlong turf race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nolan's Cat, the 3-year-old maiden who finished third in the June 11 Belmont Stakes, has been delayed in his return to action after sustaining a minor ankle injury that kept him out of training for several days.

"It really wasn't a big deal, but there wasn't any need to press on it, so we haven't," said trainer Dale Romans. "He's back in training. He just missed a few days because I was being cautious with him."

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Christine Janks's magical Arlington summer isn't over yet.

Still another horse from the Janks barn, Fifteen Rounds, won a stakes race last weekend at Arlington. Through Thursday, the Janks win total was 18, with 22 more third or better, and a meet-best $470,000 and change in purses.

Mention such facts in many backstretch spots, and you'll get a wince in return. Part of the mass racetrack superstition involves strictly avoiding detailed discussion of success, past or future.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Bobby Beck and Mark Cornett were once archrivals while chasing the ownership title at their home track of Lone Star Park. Now, they are on the same team and have won 10 races from 11 starts since forming a partnership in March.

The men race as Turf Express Inc. and Robert L. Beck, and have started horses at Lone Star, Louisiana Downs, and tracks in northern California.

"How about those two enemies teaming up?" said Beck. "We used to battle it out pretty hard."

"We were battling pretty heavy in '02 for the owners' title," said Cornett.