DEL MAR, Calif. - The strongest horses in the West Coast turf division collide Sunday in the Grade 1 at Del Mar, where the only thing missing is a pace rival for Sweet Return.

Grade 1 milers Castledale and Singletary pose the main late challenges in the 1 1/8-mile Read, but as trainer Ron McAnally considered the lack of speed in the race, he was reminded of the slow fractions Sweet Return set winning the 2003 Hollywood Derby.

"Three-quarters in 1:17 . . . I'd like to see that Sunday," McAnally said, "especially on a turf course as fast as this one."

DEL MAR, Calif. - Nearly a year has passed since Choctaw Nation won the $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar to stretch his unbeaten streak to five.

He has not won in four starts since the 2004 San Diego. Choctaw Nation was a game third in the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 26 and fifth in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park on June 18.

Sunday, can end that losing streak when he attempts to defend his title in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap over 1 1/16 miles.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Del Mar is considering installing an all-weather Polytrack surface for its 2006 meeting, pending a feasibility study and budget analysis, track vice president Craig Fravel said Friday.

Fravel said a decision will be made in October on whether to go forward on the new surface for next year.

Fravel said the project will cost between $4 million and $5 million and that finding 15,000 tons of suitable sand that can be treated with material to create the Polytrack surface is one of the biggest issues facing the project.

ELMONT, N.Y. - West Virginia has taken an unorthodox route to get to Sunday's $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes, but at least he got here. Now, his connections believe he could be ready to put forth a show-stopping performance on closing day at the Belmont summer meet.

The Evan Shipman, a 1 1/16-mile dirt race restricted to New York-breds, is the featured event on the closing-day card. Racing moves to Saratoga for six weeks beginning Wednesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Whether or not he rallies to win the Belmont Park trainer title, Todd Pletcher won't put up the gaudy numbers here that he has the last three summers.

Heading into the final weekend of the meet, Pletcher's 19 wins from 89 starters were good enough for a third-place tie in the standings, two behind Bill Mott and one behind Juan Rodriguez. Pletcher, who was tied with Christophe Clement, had two horses scheduled to run on Saturday's card and three on Sunday's closing-day card.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Gygistar finds a cozy spot Sunday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile Handicap at Monmouth Park.

The highweight in the race at 119 pounds, Gygistar loves the distance. The 6-year-old gelding trained by Mark Hennig is 3 for 4 lifetime at a mile.

He should also like the company.

got a steady diet of Grade 1 and Grade 2 races last year. He ran competitively at that level but was only 1 for 12 on the season.

MIAMI - Some horses never return from the type of knee injury that sidelined Devils Disciple for 10 months, but the son of Devil His Due is not only back, he defeated a good field of older optional claiming horses here last weekend.

CHICAGO - That Nicole's Dream is racing Sunday at Arlington scarcely qualifies as news. If she were to miss a turn, that would be news.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad have won the last three runnings of the Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes, and they will run three horses in Sunday's renewal: Silver Ticket, Colorful Judgement, and Burst of Fire.

The Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes is run over 1 3/8 miles on turf and is worth $343,200.

comes off the race of his life in the Grade 2 King Edward BC Handicap. After a four-wide stalking trip, he pulled away for a 2 3/4-length victory under Todd Kabel.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Mandi Tambi should appreciate what is likely to be a hotly contested battle for the lead in the feature race at Hastings Sunday.

The $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies drew seven horses, including the very fast Filly's Gone Wild, who has won all three of her races at Hastings. There is plenty of other speed in the 6 1/2-furlong race, though, and Mandi Tambi figures to be the main beneficiary if there's a meltdown up front.