As Fonner Park's meet winds down, the trainers' race has remained a head-and-head battle, with Marv Johnson and David Anderson tied at 23 wins apiece heading into the final two weekends of racing.

Both trainers have six titles to their credit over the years, with Anderson taking down the past three. Whoever wins this year's title will join Don Von Hemel and his seven titles at second place on the all-time list here. Tim Gleason is the leader with eight training titles, including a run of five straight from 1983 to 1987.

Apprentice jockey Kyle Kaenel will reportedly be sidelined for at least four months after breaking his shoulder and vertebra in a spill on the Turf Paradise turf course on April 19. The 17-year-old rider must wear a halo to stabilize his neck.

Kaenel was able to attend a ceremony last Sunday honoring him as the top apprentice of the meet. Before his injury, Kaenel was preparing to move his tack to Arlington Park for the summer. Even without having ridden since his injury, Kaenel remained second in the rider standings with 106 wins, trailing only Wilson Dieguez.

AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer Robbie Baze started the last two Emerald Downs meetings on fire, but this year he was feeling pretty chilly by the time Sunday's $40,000 Seattle Handicap rolled around. Baze was winless through his first 24 starts at the meet, and his entrant for the Seattle, Slewicide Cruise, had drawn the outside post in a speed-laden field of nine.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Even when he had bona fide stars such as Summer Squall and Mineshaft in his barn, trainer Neil Howard tended to downplay his chances in impending races.

Little wonder, then, that when Howard was asked to summarize Alumni Hall's chances in the $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes on Thursday at Keeneland, he responded, with raised eyebrows, "I just hope he runs good."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Rock Hard Ten has suffered a setback that jeopardizes his spring campaign, trainer Richard Mandella confirmed Tuesday. Rock Hard Ten established himself as California's top-ranked handicap horse this winter by winning three stakes, and bounced back quickly after winning the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start March 5. But his workout pattern - every four to five days - was interrupted last week.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The big headlines this time of year go to 3-year-olds in Kentucky, and the local spotlight falls on 3-year-olds as well.

Eight colts signed up for Thursday's Bay Meadows feature, a first-level allowance race at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. Among the main contenders are Dynawhite, Lucky Bid, and Sharp Writer.

Gulfstream Park closed its 86-day meet Sunday with a slight gain in average all-sources handle over last year's meet. All-sources betting rose 1.7 percent, from $9.01 million a day last year to $9.16 million this year.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Ran for the Dough has been mired at the first allowance condition for so long that trainer Paddy Gallagher has almost lost count. But Gallagher has not lost count of the purse money Ran for the Dough continues to earn.

"She's a Cal-bred going open; she brings home a nice check every time," Gallagher said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Childress, who ran five days ago in the Bed o' Roses Handicap, appears the stronger half of an entry for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. in Thursday's featured eighth race, along with Really American, who hasn't been out in three months.

Last week or last January is irrelevant when it comes to Dutrow, whose win rate hovers around 25 percent either way. But Really American has been primarily a turf filly to this point, her one dirt victory coming in an off-the-turf route more than a year ago.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Bridal Gal is the fastest horse in the featured eighth race Thursday night at Lone Star Park, but she has the least amount of turf experience. Marfa's Taxes is a turf specialist and has the most wins of any horse in the field, but she gives up recency to all of her rivals because she has not raced since November.

Those are just some of the variables that make the eighth, a 7 1/2-furlong optional claiming race for fillies and mares, a handicapping puzzle. The claiming price is $50,000, and the purse for the race is $31,500.