OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Allen Jerkens was sufficiently impressed with War Plan's maiden win last month at Gulfstream Park to think he might be worthy of running in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes here on April 30.

If War Plan is as good as Jerkens believes he is, then he figures to have little trouble with four rivals in Friday's nominal feature at Aqueduct, a $43,000 entry-level allowance race for 3-year-olds going 5 1/2 furlongs. Jerkens isn't thrilled with cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs, but he likes the idea of getting another race into the colt.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Breeders' Cup vice president of event management, Damon Thayer, was at Gulfstream Park on April 2, Florida Derby Day, prompting speculation whether the Breeders' Cup will be returning to south Florida.

That's not out of the question, Thayer said, although that wasn't the reason for his visit.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The underdog qualities in Megahertz have made her one of trainer Bobby Frankel's favorites in the last few years. Her reputation is poised to grow even further this year.

Sunday, Megahertz tries for an unprecedented third consecutive win in the $200,000 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita. A victory would mark her 11th stakes win, an achievement that seemed unlikely for the former French claimer, who is not lavishly bred and is well on the small side.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Stakes-placed Longer Walk will get a stern test when he makes his 3-year-old debut Friday night at Bay Meadows.

The winner last summer of two starts, including his debut for a $32,000 claiming tag at the Bay Meadows Fair, Longer Walk meets four rivals in a first-level allowance race at six furlongs. He is one of three in the race with two victories and the only runner with stakes experience.

AUBURN, Wash. - Demon Warlock, Emerald's horse of the meeting in 2004, will likely be sidelined for a year after being injured in his victory in last Sunday's Portland Meadows Mile.

Trainer Terry Gillihan said ultrasound tests revealed that Demon Warlock, a 5-year-old son of Demons Begone, pulled the suspensory ligament in his right front.

"It's a bummer," said the trainer. "It's a serious injury, but he can come back from it if we give him enough time. I think Captain Condo proved that."

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Perhaps she is longing for the verdant New Zealand countryside, the land of her youth. Whatever the cause, something has been bugging Janeian, and her psychological discomfort in the morning has compromised her form in the afternoon.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine's 2005 meeting opens Saturday, and while the return of live Thoroughbred racing is eagerly anticipated, a simulcast wagering issue could be the biggest story of the season.

Commingling, which would allow Canadian bettors to wager directly into U.S. pools, has long been seen as a highly desirable prospect, providing the opportunity to play into the significantly larger host pools.

Lord of the Game was racing on only nine days' rest. He was stepping up in class and running on a sloppy track for the first time, and in Hawthorne's indoor paddock Tuesday, he required a shoeing adjustment before going out for the sixth race post parade. And the horse still won a fourth-level allowance race in little more than a common gallop, running his career record to five wins without a loss.

Turf Paradise fans can always tell when the Kentucky Derby is getting close. That's because track announcer Luke Kruytbosch is also the regular voice of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. So Kruytbosch is off to Churchill Downs, after a three-day fill-in stint for Vic Stauffer at Gulfstream Park. And Michael Wrona is set to take over as track announcer at Turf Paradise on Friday. Wrona, from Australia, previously was the racecaller at Lone Star Park and has also called the races at Santa Anita.

Three-time defending national champion trainer Paul Jones could have a couple of promising derby stars in fastest-qualifiers Dutch Schultz and Louisiana Eye Opener in the gender-segregated El Primero Del Ano Derby and the La Primera Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos this weekend.

Dutch Schultz goes in the Grade 2, $152,100 El Primero Derby for colts and geldings on Friday night. Louisiana Eye Opener stands out in the Grade 2, $180,800 La Primera Derby for fillies on Saturday night. Each derby is run at 400 yards.