NEW ORLEANS - Crimson Stag, by far the best Louisiana-bred 3-year-old of his generation, will continue following the path of least resistance, and has been penciled in for a start here March 19 in the $100,000 Gentilly Handicap.

The Gentilly, a one-mile grass race, is restricted to Louisiana-breds, a division that Crimson Stag has swept his way through, with wins here in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile at six furlongs and the Crescent City Derby at 1 1/16 miles, and a breathtaking score last weekend in the $125,000 Prince Stakes at Delta Downs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Identifying the early leader in Sunday's featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park might be the key to finding the race's winner. The one-mile allowance for fillies and mares drew a host of quality stretch-runners, including leading contenders Boomboomgirl and Proudest Queen.

But finding the speed of the race takes some work. Tika's Best, who will break from the rail, seems like the best candidate to set the pace. She was a front-running winner over seven furlongs three starts ago, and with a repeat of that effort might be tough to reel in Sunday.

Hugh Mitchell has resigned his position as senior vice president of racing at Woodbine effective April 2, Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Friday.

Mitchell, 50, will be returning to Western Fair Raceway, a Standardbred track in London, Ontario, at which he had been chief operating officer before moving to Woodbine seven years ago.

"It's a lifestyle decision," said Mitchell, who has maintained a farm and home with his wife near Delaware, Ontario, while making the 100-plus mile commute to Woodbine on a weekly basis.

Win Mir, the 2004 champion New Mexico-bred 2-year-old colt or gelding, tries for his sixth win in his last seven starts when he meets 2004 champion New Mexico-bred 2-year-old filly Uno Menudo in a deep Grade 2, $125,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders Association Stakes at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon.

NEW ORLEANS - The 11 3-year-olds entered in Saturday's Grade 3 at Fair Grounds are out to prove they belong in the top echelon of the division. For most, a victory will ensure at least a month of stardom and a start in the March 12 Louisiana Derby. Several have such potential that a victory will put them on the short list of Kentucky Derby contenders.

The top three wagering choices are likely to be Harlington, Rush Bay, and Storm Surge, all of whom are individual entrants in this weekend's Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A string of longshots on Thursday produced a carryover of $102,706 for Friday's eight-race program at Santa Anita.

The pick six covers the third through eighth races on Friday's program, which could be affected by rain early Friday.

There are no late scratches in Friday's pick six races, all of which are run on the main track.

The bet begins in the third race, run over 1 1-16 miles for 4-year-olds entered to be claimed for $18,000 to $20,000. Six of the seven runners are listed at 6-1 or less on the morning-line. Silver Past is the 2-1 favorite.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Bringing together the defending champ, the world record holder at the distance, and one of the two best Hosts in the world figures to make Saturday's $100,000 Appleton Handicap one of the better turf stakes of the Gulfstream Park meeting. The Appleton will share top billing on Saturday's 11-race program with the $100,000 Suwannee River Handicap for fillies and mares on the grass.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Angela's Love is tough to beat when allowed to relax on the lead, and should have things her own way on the front end in Saturday's $100,000 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park.

Although proved she could win from off the pace in the Grade 3 Gardenia Handicap last summer in Kentucky, there is little doubt she is at her best when loose on the lead. Earlier in the session here, she led throughout to score a 2 1/2-length victory in the Marshua's River Stakes, which marked only the second time in 15 starts that Angela's Love has raced on grass.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. was disappointed but not discouraged over B. B. Best's fourth-place finish in the Sunshine Millions Dash. After watching B. B. Best work five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Calder under jockey Jorge Chavez on Thursday, Plesa is contemplating trying to stretch out his speedy 3-year-old in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 5.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sharp Lisa may not have a better chance to win a Grade 1 than Saturday's $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

Already the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Breeders' Cup Stakes last month, and the runner-up in two major stakes last year, Sharp Lisa faces a field that lacks two of the division's leading members - Sweet Catomine, the 2-year-old champion of 2004, and Splendid Blended, the winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes last month.