LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In the aftermath of a breakthrough victory by Kitten's Joy in the Secretariat Stakes last August in Chicago, the colt's connections found themselves in a dilemma: shorter or longer?

Owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Dale Romans ultimately chose longer races for Kitten's Joy than the 1 1/4-mile Secretariat, a decision that paid off with the 2004 Eclipse Award for top turf horse. Still, both men believe that either option would have been the correct one, since Kitten's Joy has the kind of brilliance and versatility to be a top miler, too.

AUBURN, Wash. - Monday's Independence Day Sprint Festival at Emerald Downs comes complete with a $25,000 guaranteed pick four on the four featured overnight handicaps, and players may have a hard time deciding which of three strong favorites to single.

The choice here is Wasserman in the 5 1/2-furlong Stars and Stripes for 3-year-olds. Undefeated in two starts, Wasserman demonstrated he can withstand severe pace pressure when he dueled through a fast half-mile and then drew away to beat allowance rivals on June 12. He can take another step forward Monday and looks rock-solid.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Frank Brothers has been suspended 15 days and fined $2,500 after one of his starters at the Keeneland meet tested positive for the banned raceday substance acepromazine.

Chief steward Mickey Sample said Brothers will begin serving his penalty next Monday, July 11. That will allow Brothers to run his stable star, Madcap Escapade, on Saturday in the $500,000 Princess Rooney Stakes on the Summit of Speed program at Calder.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Helen Pitts wasted little time winning for the first time as a head trainer, taking the ninth race Friday at Churchill Downs. She could win another, on Monday at Arlington, with Galloping Gal in the featured Possibly Perfect Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The 3-year-old division has broken down into two groups. Afleet Alex. Everybody else.

While Afleet Alex awaits next month's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, several 3-year-olds seek to run themselves to the head of the second group in Monday's Grade 2, $150,000 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park.

A condylar fracture suffered by Peter Pan Stakes winner Oratory left a seven-horse field for the Dwyer, a 1 1/16-mile race run around one turn. . Longshots Freedom Isnt Free and Biloxi Palace complete the field.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The field assembled for Monday's $100,000 Tremont Stakes at Belmont for juvenile colts did not live up to its potential when the nominations were released two weeks ago.

Impressive first-out winner Travelin Leroy and the one-two finishers in the Flash Stakes, Beacon Shine and Union Course, did not enter, their connections opting to point for the Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special on July 28.

Their absences leave Henny Hughes the probable favorite in the Tremont, run at 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After a disappointing Triple Crown, trainer Nick Zito is hoping for a more fruitful second half of the season with his 3-year-olds. He may get a jump-start from an unheralded runner in Monday's $150,000 Dwyer Stakes.

, who began his career in Europe, has flourished in the last few months under Zito's care. After winning his maiden and an entry-level allowance race in Kentucky, Middle Earth finished third behind the undefeated Lost in the Fog and Egg Head in the Grade 2 Riva Ridge on June 11.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - For a brief time last month, was under consideration for Sunday's $750,000 American Oaks - until trainer Christopher Paasch took inventory on the field.

As the American Oaks grew closer, Paasch realized that his filly may not be up to that Grade 1 level, at least not yet. So instead Conveyor's Angel is starting in Monday's $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park.

"I would have been 30-1 in the Oaks and I'm 3-1 in the Flawlessly," Paasch said.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When he is not scouring the nation's entries for 2-year-olds sired by his old friend Tiznow, trainer Jay Robbins has been busy reviving his stable in recent weeks.

Robbins trained Tiznow to a Horse of the Year campaign in 2000 and to consecutive wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2000 and 2001. This summer, Tiznow's first foals have reached the track, and Robbins is keeping score at home.

"I get a bigger kick out of following them than training horses right now," he said.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - More Smoke, a romping winner in his last two starts, is part of a small field Monday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

The six-furlong Independence Day feature attracted five.

Celtic Innis, Joey P., Maddy's Lion, and Razor will run against More Smoke, who has blossomed since returning from Florida.

More Smoke made one start at Gulfstream Park and ran third behind Lost in the Fog, the unbeaten leader among 3-year-old sprinters.