ARCADIA, Calif. - Ian Jory, who trained Best Pal at 2 and 3 and several other stakes winners in the last 15 years, is disbanding his stable to take a position as a private trainer in Saudi Arabia this spring.

Jory will train for Prince Sultan al Kabeer, and will oversee 200 horses in training in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

Jory, 46, said he would continue to train in California through Jan. 29 before dispersing his 16-horse stable to other trainers. He will travel to Dubai in March to watch racing and will begin training in Saudi Arabia in April.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Budget Surplus and Frankelstein, who won maiden races at Hollywood Park in the fall for trainer Marty Jones, make their first starts against winners in a $52,000 allowance race for California-breds at Santa Anita on Friday.

Both geldings have similar styles - they are most effective when racing from the front.

The pair have seven opponents in a race over 1 1/16 miles. Many of the entrants made their last starts in claiming races and have won multiple races against older horses.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - At this time last year, trainer Rick Violette had an accomplished New York-bred 3-year-old he thought could be a player on the Triple Crown trail. Although Qualified Opinion may not be another Read the Footnotes, he has done some things in his first two races to get Violette excited.

After winning his first two starts, both sprinting, Qualified Opinion will stretch out for the first time in Saturday's $75,000 Count Fleet Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

The daily average handle from all sources decreased 2 percent on races at Pimlico and Laurel Park in 2004, even though bets placed on Maryland races from outside the state rose 4 percent, the fourth consecutive year that amount has risen, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates both tracks.

The average daily handle from outside the state was $2,131,300 in 2004, compared with $2,047,200 in 2003. The average daily handle from all sources dropped from $3.48 million to $3.41 million.

ALBANY, Calif. - Three runners will be seeking hat tricks in Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $62,500 optional claimer for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

Sacred Senor, Mr. Fondue, and Makalapua each have two straight victories.

Sacred Senor has won two straight since finishing fifth in his career debut. He'll be making his first start since Nov. 18, when he rallied four wide on the turn to win a $40,000 starter allowance race. Sacred Senor has the best last-race Beyer in a sprint where no one shows much early speed.

Mannered will be the oldest horse to race in Texas in recent memory when he makes his 13-year-old debut, which is scheduled for Jan. 15. He is also expected to be the first to benefit from a policy change at Sam Houston Race Park.

In the past, Sam Houston had not allowed horses 13 or older to compete at the track, but effective Jan. 1, 2005, they will no longer exclude horses because of age provided they fulfill the eligibility requirements of the Texas Racing Commission. Mannered does at the present time because he won a race on March 26, 2004.

Delta Downs has no stakes race on Friday night, but the $20,000 fourth race has the feel of one. Among the eight entered in the five-furlong allowance are stakes winners Joyful Tune, Front Nine, Believe Im Special, and Run Zeal Run.

Evangeline Downs will offer seven Quarter Horse stakes worth a cumulative $165,000 during its inaugural meet at the track's new site in Opelousas, La. Trials for the estimated $100,000 Mardi Gras Futurity for Louisiana-breds, the richest stakes on the schedule, will usher in racing in Opelousas on Feb. 5. The 300-yard finale will be held on Feb. 26.

Evangeline has moved operations from its old site in Carencro, La., and now operates a slots casino in Opelousas.

Trainer Steve Asmussen hasn't had too many things to be disappointed about the past couple seasons. But when Souris finished a non-threatening third in an allowance race at Sunland Park Dec. 11, he had to be wondering. After all, Souris had been competitive with top-class fillies such as Lady Tak and My Trusty Cat, and as recently as Nov. 6 won an allowance race at Churchill Downs with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The purse for the Kentucky Derby has been doubled to a record $2 million guaranteed, Churchill Downs announced Tuesday, making it one of the richest prizes in North American racing.

The increase in the Kentucky Derby purse, the first since a $500,000 raise nine years ago, places the Derby in a tie for second with the Breeders' Cup Distaff and Turf on the list of the richest races in the United States. The $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - worth $3,668,000 after nominator awards are paid out - is North America's richest race.