LEXINGTON, Ky. - Artie Schiller returned to the races in resounding fashion Friday when he thumped an exceptionally deep field of turf milers, drawing clear under Edgar Prado to take the Grade 2, $250,000 before a sun-splashed crowd of 18,787 at Keeneland.

Artie Schiller, making his first start since finishing a troubled 12th as the lukewarm favorite in the Breeders' Cup Mile in October, returned $5 as the favorite in a field of 10 older horses. Gulch Approval finished second, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner and another three-quarters of a length before Good Reward.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The loudest roar from the crowd on opening night Thursday at Lone Star Park came shortly before the sixth race, when Expecting Sugar, who had gotten loose during the post parade, completed a rider-less circuit around the racetrack and galloped past the fans, trying to figure out what in the world was going on. The crowd greeted Expecting Sugar with an exuberant Texas whoop.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Funny Cide is getting close to a race. The New York-bred horse of the year for the second straight year in 2004, Funny Cide returned from Florida to Belmont Park on Monday. On Friday, he breezed six furlongs on the main track in 1:13.02, the fastest of four workouts at the distance.

Jockey Erick Rodriguez will be out of action for up to six weeks after fracturing four vertebrae in a spill during Thursday's fourth race at Laurel. Rodriguez, 25, was riding the favorite, Bud Chaffee, when the gelding fell a furlong from the finish line, sending the jockey to the ground.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Round Pond pulled clear to a four and a half length win in the Grade 2, $250,000 before a crowd of 22,031 at Oaklawn Park on Friday. She will make her next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico on May 20, said her trainer, John Servis.

Rugula finished second after setting the pace in the Fantasy.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Handicappers will have to decide whether to go with fitness or freshness in Sunday's $138,000 Whimsical Stakes, a six-furlong dash for fillies and mares at Woodbine.

Nashinda is arguably the most talented runner in the nine-horse field, but she hasn't raced in over nine months. Big Cheque and Silver Bird, both of whom raced this winter, are both winless since 2003, but they should have a big fitness advantage on their rivals.

AUBURN, Wash. - Southern California invader Kelly's Princess is the one to beat in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies running in Sunday's $40,000 U. S. Bank Stakes at six furlongs.

Kelly's Princess, a daughter of Western Fame from the barn of trainer Adam Kitchingman, was scheduled to arrive at Emerald Downs Friday afternoon by van from Santa Anita, where she won her last start, against $50,000 claimers, on March 24.

Kelly's Princess led throughout under jockey Joey Steiner, winning by a neck after 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.75.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It appears that five of the six 3-year-old fillies entered in the $40,000 Fair Lady Stakes at Hastings on Sunday want the lead. That being the case, the 6 1/2-furlong race should set up beautifully for the late-running Backseat Becka.

A daughter of Orchid's Devil, Backseat Becka was the champion juvenile filly in the province in 2005 and she figures to be a solid favorite Sunday in her initial start of the year.

CALGARY, Alberta - Dakota Duke should like the company he faces in Sunday's third race, a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds, after challenging Alberta's top juveniles twice last season at Northlands Park.

Dakota Duke, a Florida-bred son of Stormy Atlantic, was unable to handle the likes of Poor Iggy, arguably the top colt from the local freshman crop, or speedy stablemate Golden Hunt in the Edmonton Juvenile. But Dakota Duke was not disgraced in running third there and then fourth in the Birdcatcher, which was captured by Vancouver invader One Special Hoss.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The 80-day Portland Meadows meeting is winding down and there are fewer than 400 horses left on the grounds, but you wouldn't know that from Sunday's 78th program. A total of 81 horses are entered on the nine-race card, or nine per race, and that is an average most West Coast tracks might envy.

Sunday's featured seventh race, a six-furlong test for open $2,500 claimers, will better the average with an evenly matched field of 10.