LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sometimes a loss can legitimately be blamed on extraneous factors, such as a slow pace, but far more often a horse is defeated simply because it didn't run fast enough. It might be tempting to say Oneofacat was helpless to overtake a front-running winner in her last start, but the more plausible explanation for her distant third-place finish as the favorite in that May 28 race at Churchill Downs was because she did not fire her best shot.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The results of the Belmont Stakes notwithstanding, the main track at Belmont Park was particularly kind to horses with early speed all through last week. If that trend continues, it could bode well for two of the contenders in Thursday's featured eighth race, a second-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles that attracted a field of five 4-year-old fillies.

Pimlico Race Course closed its 39-day spring meeting on Sunday with a 7 percent increase in total handle over last year's results, according to figures released Tuesday by the Maryland Jockey Club.

Total handle during the meet, including betting on 17 simulcast-only days, was $243.4 million, compared with $227.4 million last year. Average daily handle was $5.5 million, a 6 percent increase over last year's figure of $5.2 million.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dance for Dash gets some class relief for her second start of the year in Thursday's Woodbine feature, a seven-furlong turf allowance for fillies and mares.

Dance for Dash struggled home seventh when she debuted last June on the grass, and also fared poorly when she reappeared on the dirt nearly three months later. She woke up dramatically, however, when trainer Barb Minshall put her back on the grass on Oct. 16 in a maiden special route, which she won comfortably at 51-1, with a solid 78 Beyer Speed Figure.

AUBURN, Wash. - Do's Buckshot will aim for his fourth straight win in Thursday's Emerald Downs feature, a 1 1/16-mile race that brings together nine older horses under $3,500 starter handicap conditions.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The promising career of a wickedly fast 4-year-old named Wildcat Shoes has come to an abrupt and disappointing end. Trainer William "Jinks" Fires said Tuesday at Churchill Downs that Wildcat Shoes recently suffered a fractured sesamoid that has forced the colt into retirement.

CHICAGO - Trainer Wayne Catalano is on a losing streak. As of Sunday, it had grown to two races.

Brutal.

The bar actually hasn't been set that high yet - but it's getting there. After losing with his first two starters this meet, Catalano won with seven of his next nine. He hasn't sent out more than three losers in a row all meet. Most of his horses have been favored, and after consecutive Catalano losses following Primm's sharp win in a turf-claimer here Saturday, a wise guy might joke that Cat had gone cold.

AUBURN, Wash. - Queenledo will likely take a little break after getting her third straight stakes win in Sunday's one-mile Irish Day Handicap, according to trainer Tim McCanna.

"I'm leaning toward skipping the next stakes for her," he said, referring to the $60,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on July 10. "She has had three hard races in a row, and the next one is a Northwest Race Series stakes, so she won't be eligible for all the money. It seems like a good time to rest her."

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Every day is still a learning experience for Amy Tarrant, who is only in her third year as a trainer. But the early season results at Monmouth Park suggest Tarrant is a quick study.

Tarrant has already won 4 races with only 16 starters and one of the winners, , goes for a repeat score Thursday in the $41,000 allowance feature at 1 1/16 miles.

Tarrant won only three races last year at Monmouth.

Leading trainer Cole Norman believes the best is yet to come for Royal Saint, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96 on Sunday when he won a conditioned allowance at Louisiana Downs.

It was the second straight win for the 3-year-old Royal Saint, whose three career starts have all come at six furlongs. Royal Saint, who won his maiden from just off the pace, led throughout on Sunday, defeating older horses by a determined neck in 1:10.