Remington Park-based owner and trainer Joan Charlton brought Prospector's Music to Oklahoma in 2002, and the horse became one of the most patronized stallions in the state. But when he died in December, Charlton was left to find a new stallion to replace him. Charlton has decided on first-year stallion Strategic Partner, a Grade 3-winning son of Kris S.

Dixie Meister and Leaving on My Mind, who have each won a two-turn stakes for 3-year-olds at Sam Houston Race Park, could meet next month in the $125,000 Stymie division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race will be held on April 30.

Dixie Meister is being pointed for that race, said his trainer, Barry Germany. But before then, he is being considered for one of two other stakes: the $40,000 Fort Bend County at seven furlongs at Sam Houston on April 2, and the $40,000 Tempe Handicap over a mile on turf at Turf Paradise on March 26.

NEW ORLEANS - Because of its its relatively short 1 1/16-mile distance and its spot on the calendar eight weeks before the Kentucky Derby, the Louisiana Derby tends to attract 3-year-olds trying to establish their credentials around two turns and late-developing classics hopefuls.

Scipion and Real Dandy, the first two finishers in the Risen Star Stakes, fall into the latter category. Vicarage and Risen Star third-place finisher Storm Surge have yet to prove their two-turn prowess.

NEW ORLEANS - Summerly, who is expected to start as the favorite in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, will have a new rider for the race, with Jerry Bailey replacing Donnie Meche, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday morning.

Meche most recently rode Summerly to victory in the Grade 3 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 12. Meche rode Summerly in her last two starts, which she won by a combined margin of 13 lengths.

NEW ORLEANS - This town is hardly the place to take an immature kid, but it has worked with Scipion. His victory in last month's Risen Star was the first stakes victory of his career and is a reason trainer Patrick Biancone has brought Scipion back to Fair Grounds for Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Louisiana Derby.

"A month ago, I wasn't sure he would mature this quick," Biancone said Tuesday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It took Areek five tries finally to win her second-level allowance condition. It may take her only one attempt to get past the next one.

Despite stepping up to the next level, Areek, an easy winner of a second-level allowance dash earlier in the meet, is one of the key contenders in Thursday's $37,000 main event at Gulfstream Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dash is an optional claiming race for older fillies and mares.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As a 2-year-old in 2003, Sir Oscar was the toast of south Florida after winning his first six starts, including all three legs of Calder's Florida Stallion Stakes. But a very disappointing 3-year-old campaign saw Sir Oscar move out of the limelight and eventually into the barn of trainer Maria Virginia Pascual.

Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Pascual is hoping to put Sir Oscar back into the public eye when she sends him out against Lion Tamer and Clock Stopper in the Grade 2 Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It probably is too late for any of the 3-year-olds in the fifth race Wednesday at Santa Anita to be considered hopefuls for the Kentucky Derby. But when exactly does it become too late to dream?

Richard Mandella smiled and said, "I don't want to talk about it."

Sure he does. Mandella is co-breeder, co-owner, and the sole trainer of lightly raced 3-year-old Ulistnintome, one of the favorites to win a 1 1/16-mile dirt race that carries Derby ramifications. The significance is not lost on Mandella.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Roman Ruler's feet and work schedule will determine where he makes his 3-year-old debut, and it might be close to home. Trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday that Roman Ruler may stay at Santa Anita for the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes on March 19, rather than ship to Aqueduct for the Gotham Stakes, scheduled to be run as a one-turn mile, the same day.

"If I run him two turns, naturally he's going to need [the race]," said trainer Bob Baffert. "With his foot, it's a day-to-day deal. The quarter crack is growing out; our main thing is the foot."

SAN MATEO, Calif. - They are consistent veterans, no longer the stars but popular nonetheless because they have been through the wars and still give their best.

Thursday's fourth race at Bay Meadows is for $12,500 claimers at six furlongs, and the six sprinters have a combined 40 victories, 47 seconds and 18 thirds, and have earned more than $800,000.

The 7-year-old Texas Chili fits nicely at this level. He won for a $16,000 tag two back and missed by less than a length for $20,000 in his last start.