ARCADIA, Calif. - Turf marathons are a perfect fit for T.H. Approval.

After winning or placing in four of five starts at 1 1/4 miles or farther, T.H. Approval scored his first stakes win in Santa Anita's longest race - Saturday's $250,000 over about 1 3/4 miles on turf.

Ridden by Rene Douglas, T.H. Approval ($12.60) was timed in 2:45.02, finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front of Exterior, the 7-5 favorite. Fitz Flag, a 37-1 shot finished third, with contender Stanley Park fourth in the field of eight.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Bandini ran himself squarely into the Kentucky Derby picture with an authoritative victory Saturday in the 81st running of the at Keeneland before a record crowd of 33,621.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Two days before he was to start as a live contender in Monday's $100,000 San Simeon Handicap at Santa Anita, was sending the right signals to trainer Anthony Saavedra during a gallop on Saturday morning.

"I just got off of him and he was full of it," Saavedra said. "He's coming into it as good as he can come into a race."

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Take a deep breath. Afleet Alex is back.

Afleet Alex, compromised by a lung infection in the Rebel Stakes last month, rebounded with the best performance of his career on Saturday, racing to an authoritative eight-length victory in the Grade 2, $1 million at Oaklawn Park.

The margin of victory was an Arkansas Derby record.

An announced crowd of 71,010, the second-largest in Oaklawn's history, sent Afleet Alex off as the 2-1 favorite, with Greater Good next at 5-2. Afleet Alex ($6.80) did not disappoint them.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Diboll Dilly overtook the leaders in the stretch to win the $100,000 Instant Racing Breeders' Cup by three-quarters of a length in the first leg of a national pick four that linked stakes races at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland on Saturday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - In the days leading to the Grade 2 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes, trainer Dallas Stewart didn't want to hear about how Clock Stopper had been coming up short against top-flight sprinters.

"He'll be ready," Stewart promised.

And ready he was. Clock Stopper, getting a perfect stalking trip under Jerry Bailey, surged past front-running Gators N Bears in midstretch to win the $424,900 on Saturday at Keeneland. Clock Stopper returned $11.60 as fourth choice in a field of six older horses.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The California Horse Racing Board announced Saturday that it has filed a complaint against trainer Julio Canani regarding his actions in the days before Sweet Catomine finished fifth as the 4-5 favorite in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. The board alleges that Canani has violated three of its rules.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jason Lumpkins, currently fourth in the Bay Meadows standings, heads east Monday to prepare to ride at Delaware Park.

"I don't want to ride the fairs," Lumpkins said, explaining his decision.

He is heading back now so that he will have time to settle in before the Delaware Park meeting starts on April 30.

"I'm slated to ride a few at Philly Park," said Lumpkins, who will be represented by old friend Corey Black.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Diane Nelson knew she had horse. She just needed to find room.

In midstretch, Nelson was able to guide Acey Deucey into the clear and she ran past Seeking the Ante to win Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 by a half-length before 4,875 at Aqueduct. Seeking the Ante was second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of favored Pleasant Chimes, who stumbled at the start.

Last Toots, Quite a Ruckus, Secrets Galore, Bright Mahogany, and Toll Taker completed the order of finish.

Miss Victory kept her U.S. record unblemished with a 1 1/2-length victory over 24-1 longshot Adreality in Saturday's $50,000 Bob Slater Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Slater was the final regularly scheduled stakes of the 2005 Gulfstream season, which ends next Sunday.

Miss Victory, an Argentine-bred daughter of Numerous, overcame a slow start to defeat allowance competition by a neck in her U.S. debut here on March 27. She broke more sharply to force the early pace of Platinum Perfect in the five-furlong Bob Slater, gained command near the eighth pole, and edged clear.