HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Mountain General, Rodeo's Castle, and I'm Majestic were all nominated to Saturday's $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn, but instead have been entered in the ninth race Wednesday, and their presence makes for a strong six-furlong allowance feature with an optional claiming price of $80,000.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - In his first trip back to Oaklawn since winning last year's Arkansas Derby with Smarty Jones, jockey Stewart Elliott came within a half-length of sweeping the track's weekend stakes for 3-year-olds.

Elliott was second in the Grade 3, $250,000 with Round Pond. Rockport Harbor was making his first start in 3 1/2 months in the Rebel.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Closing Argument has been conspicuous by his absence since winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull here on Feb. 5. But trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Closing Argument is alive and doing well at Palm Meadows, where he continues to prepare for the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2.

Closing Argument worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 at Palm Meadows on Monday morning. It was his penultimate work before the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, in which he'll be one of the favorites along with High Fly, Bandini, and Noble Causeway.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Seven weeks after finishing a half-length apart in a third-level optional claiming race at a mile, Childress and Excessed will meet again under similar conditions at 7 1/2 furlongs in Wednesday's $37,000 feature.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows racing secretary Tom Doutrich is a modern thinker, but he's not afraid to go retro to help create interesting races.

Pressed ($29.60), the less-heralded part of an uncoupled entry for trainer Eddie Johnston, drew off to a three-length victory in the $73,000 Fair Grounds Sales Stakes.

Pressed, a maiden who had made three of his previous four starts on turf, looped the field on the far turn and overtook stablemate Catquit, the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10, in midstretch.

Horses rarely reach their peak at the age of 8. But that appears to be the case with Lilah, who became the oldest mare to win a graded stakes at Gulfstream Park after registering a three-length victory over Forty Moves in the $100,000 .

Lilah has gotten better with every start since finishing fourth as the even-money favorite in an optional claiming race here on Jan. 7. The Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie was the third win in a row for Lilah, who is trained by Allen Jerkens.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Even though she already is a Grade 1 winner, and is now 6 years old, the connections of Megahertz have decided to keep her in training for another year. Those who thrill to the pint-sized mare's last-to-first charges, including trainer Bobby Frankel, are filled with gratitude.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Round Pond, one of the most impressive maiden winners of the meet for the same connections as top Kentucky Derby hopeful Rockport Harbor, won the $75,000 by 5 3/4 lengths Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

The mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-old fillies is a prep for the Grade 2, $250,000 Fantasy on April 15.

R B J's Blaze dueled throughout for a nose win over Nuttyboom in the $40,000 Spring Stakes for Texas-breds at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. It was another two and half lengths back in third to Giant Bellyache, who was part of a favored entry with fourth-place finisher Charming Socialite.

R B J's Blaze ($18.40) dueled with Nuttyboom through fractions of 22.53 seconds for the opening quarter in the seven-furlong race and 44.94 seconds for the half-mile mark. R B J's Blaze went on to cover the distance over a track rated good in 1:23.05.