DM Shicago, winner of the All American Futurity, will be challenged by fellow millionaire Ocean Runaway in a strong Grade 1, $407,958 Rainbow Derby on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

DM Shicago, the 2004 champion 2-year-old gelding, is after his third straight Grade 1 victory at the New Mexico mountain track after concluding his juvenile season with a victory there in the $2 million All American Futurity and returning from a winter's rest to win the $273,935 Ruidoso Derby. He has made each of his eight career starts at Ruidoso, with four wins and $1,194,098 in earnings.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Kourtneysfirst, a sharp maiden winner at odds-on here July 14, takes her act to another level Saturday in the $50,000 Southern Belle Stakes. Restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana, the 5 1/2-furlong Southern Belle drew a field of six.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Reade Baker had been looking forward to running Raylene in Saturday's $100,000 Belle Mahone, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

But the Belle Mahone is not part of Woodbine's guaranteed stakes schedule. And when the Belle Mahone attracted just four entrants, the race was history.

Raylene has raced just once this season, finishing five lengths behind One for Rose when third in the Matron, and Baker now will be looking toward Monmouth Park for the mare's next outing.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - After two years with no wins, trainer Desmond Maynard will be seeking his 10th win of the year on Saturday when he saddles Shoreman in the sixth race at Fort Erie.

Maynard was licensed in 1998 while he was at Woodbine. He moved his operation here this spring after being blanked the past two seasons at the Toronto track.

"It was awful, very bad," said Maynard. "I had few stalls. But I did some freelance galloping. That's what saved me."

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - A full field of 10 older geldings will line up in Saturday's $6,000 Fred Mendel Memorial Handicap at Marquis Downs, and the race is so competitive that a case could be made for any of the entrants. Run at a mile, the Mendel has a nice mix of front-runners, stalkers, and closers, and it just may be that the horse that gets the best trip will be the one to win.

DEL MAR, Calif. - For 45 weeks a year, Les Kepics blends into the background as part of the ensemble band Haute Chili, playing at corporate functions all over the country. But for seven weeks each summer at Del Mar, the Poway, Calif., resident is front and center, the one who lets everyone know that the games are about to begin.

On opening day Wednesday at Del Mar, Kepics made his way onto the main track, blew into his shiny, gold B-flat trumpet, and belted out the familiar notes of "First Call," to the delight of the crowd.

DEL MAR, Calif. - For trainer Jim Cassidy, the opening day of Del Mar does not come until Saturday, when Ticker Tape, his prized turf mare, starts in the $400,000 John Mabee Handicap.

Ticker Tape is the first starter of the meeting for Cassidy's 24-horse stable, a group that has strength among its female turf runners.

Cassidy also trains Singhalese, 3, who is being pointed to the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20. Singhalese finished fourth in the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap and third in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Doug O'Neill may have been the person most surprised by Kalookan Lessie's five-length win in her debut at Hollywood Park on June 22. Not that the result bothered him.

"I didn't think she'd do that first time out," O'Neill said. "I didn't see that coming."

The win has made Kalookan Lessie the favorite in Friday's $125,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar.

has drawn the rail, and she may have enough speed to overcome what is likely to be a very quick pace. O'Neill said she is capable of leading throughout.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rahy's Appeal would have been a decent price if she had run against open company in an overnight stakes at Belmont Park on July 9, but she was scratched when the race was rained off the turf. On Friday, Rahy's Appeal will run against New York-breds in the $60,000-added Jena Jena Stakes, and she could be a slight favorite in the eight-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

The Friday card is the final twilight racing program of the year in New York. Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Bridles with solar-powered fans, air-conditioned saddle-towels - any ideas for how to keep a horse cool this weekend at Arlington?

The three graded turf stakes scheduled here for Saturday were drawn Wednesday. Eight went into the Grade 3, $200,000 Arlington Handicap, eight in the Grade 2, $250,000 American Derby, and 11 in the Grade 3, $150,000 Modesty Handicap - and non-sweaters need not apply.