HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Nick Zito was looking at Saturday as a pivotal day in the progress of some of his late-developing 3-year-olds. In at least one case, the trainer got the result he desired. Noble Causeway, a $1.15 million yearling purchase, took a major leap forward when he won Saturday's fourth race at Gulfstream Park in his fourth start. The maiden race was his first start around two turns.

Noble Causeway ($4.60) got through along the rail and drew clear to win by two lengths in 1:51.49 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track. Edgar Prado was aboard.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Julie Krone and Willie Martinez are just a few of the many riders who have come to Tampa Bay Downs as unknown apprentices and used big meetings here as springboards for their fledgling careers. This season, a new crop of bug riders is scuffling for mounts, hoping for opportunities to show what they can do.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Defending champion Yougottawanna ($12.60) was put on the lead early, got a breather on the second turn and proved superior in the lane in winning the $86,250 Grade 3 Seabiscuit Breeders' Cup Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

Yougottawanna defeated Jake Skate by 1 1/4 lengths, winning the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:41.42. His stablemate, Adreamisborn, was third another 1 1/2 lengths back.

Rockport Harbor will skip the $100,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19 and instead will be pointed for the track's Grade 3, $250,000 Rebel Stakes on March 19, said his trainer, John Servis.

The Rebel will be the first start of the year for Rockport Harbor, an undefeated colt and top candidate for the Kentucky Derby.

"I would have to push him a little bit harder to get him ready [for the Southwest], and we've got too long a year ahead of us," said Servis.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Going Wild made the successful transition from sprinter to router with a front-running win in Saturday's $102,300 at Santa Anita.

The victory gave owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer D. Wayne Lukas a colt to follow in the major Triple Crown preps in coming months.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Going Wild ($12.20) led throughout the Sham Stakes, winning by a length. He finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.18.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The first surprise of the day occurred when the thermometer reached 50 degrees at Aqueduct. It was not the only surprise.

On a day when every winner paid double-digit mutuels, Lavender Lass held off favored Bank Audit to win Saturday's $78,375 Correction Handicap by a half-length. It was another half-length back to Santa Croce. High Peaks and Travelator completed the order of finish.

It was the first stakes win for Lavender Lass, a 5-year-old daughter of Skip Trial who was making her 30th career start.

Mike Lauer got the answer he was looking for Saturday.

Lauer, who with his wife, Penny, bred and owns a 3-year-old named Snack, had been wondering whether the colt would be as effective in a two-turn race as he had been in winning back-to-back sprints leading into the $43,500 WEBN Frog Stakes at Turfway Park. The answer: Snack circled the field with an even better late kick to win the one-mile WEBN by three lengths.

Ridden by Ramsey Zimmerman, Snack paid $6.60. Catch Me, the 2-1 favorite, was second, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Cat Shaker in a field of eight 3-year-olds.

Souris turned in her customary rally from far back at Fair Grounds to win the $60,000 Pan Zareta Handicap going away. It was her third consecutive stakes win.

When the gates opened, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. allowed Souris, the odds-on favorite, to break far behind the field, as James Graham sent Silver Crown to the lead through a quarter-mile in 22.22 seconds with Crow Jane in hot pursuit and Stirrin Up a Storm right there. Forest Music, the speedy filly making her return from a layoff, showed none of her customary zip, breaking awkwardly and bearing out on the backstretch.

Deputy Storm held off a late surge from Engineered to win the $50,000 King Cotton Stakes by a head at Oaklawn Park. It was another length back in third to Level Playingfield.

Deputy Storm ($16.60) took the lead soon after the start of the six-furlong King Cotton and led the field through an opening quarter of 22.16 seconds, with That Tat in close pursuit. Deputy Storm shook off That Tat on the turn and covered the half-mile in 45.17. Through the stretch, Deputy Storm repulsed a bid by Wildcat Shoes, then held off a rail bid from Engineered to win in 1:10.32.

Malibu Moonshine, blocked on the rail entering the stretch, swung out very wide to find racing room, then blasted home fastest of all to win the $75,000 Miracle Wood at Laurel Park.

The Miracle Wood was a scramble among longhots Mr. Cliveden (60-1), Family Ghost (21-1), and Sueno Del Mar (57-1) for the first six furlongs, but turning for home, the more logical contenders were gaining fast.