Tim Capps, the executive vice president of the Maryland Jockey Club, will leave his position as of Sunday, officials for the MJC said Monday.

Capps, who did not return phone calls on Monday, played a large role in the MJC's political strategies. He came aboard at the MJC at the beginning of 2002, when the association began aggressively seeking slot machines at Maryland racetracks. The effort has so far been unsuccessful.

Six months after Capps was hired, a majority interest in the MJC was purchased by Magna Entertainment Corp., the racetrack conglomerate.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It's certainly not often that trainer Bobby Frankel and jockey John Velazquez team up together here at Woodbine.

But when that confluence does occur, good things can be expected, as was the case when Commercante captured the Grade 1, $750,000 by a half-length here Sunday.

Frankel and Velazquez, who later finished fifth in the Canadian International with King's Drama, had last joined forces here in 2000 and won the $1 million Atto Mile with Riviera.

Frankel did not have another starter here until Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sulamani wasn't exactly Secretariat - no horse ever could be.

But when Sulamani romped home in the $1.5 million here Sunday the situation did evoke some memories of the cold, miserable afternoon here in 1973 when Secretariat wound up his career on a note of triumph.

The afternoon wasn't pleasant this past Sunday, either, and Sulamani is a very, very good horse who ended up his racing days in fitting fashion for owner Godolphin, trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and jockey Frankie Dettori.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Laurie Lafavers has enjoyed a solid relationship with Mahmoud Fustok's Buckram Oak Farm, and that business partnership could strengthen on Wednesday when Lafavers saddles Mahzouz for Buckram Oak Farm in the $100,000-added Discovery on opening day of Aqueduct's fall meet.

Lafavers's initial association with Buckram Oak came through Fustok's sister-in-law, Ann, who owned Boston Party, a stakes winner trained by LaFavers's former boss, Lenny Imperio. After Imperio died in the spring of 2002, Lafavers went out on her own.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The final four-day stretch of the Keeneland fall meet starts Wednesday, when four allowance races form an interesting lead-in to programs that will include the final few stakes of the stand.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Sulamani closed with a rush to post an impressive victory in the 67th running of the $1.5 million at Woodbine Sunday.

Frankie Dettori rode the England-based Sulamani for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor, the same combination which captured the 2000 International with Mutafaweq. Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said in the winner's circle that Sulamani would likely be retired.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The two favorites in the Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes staged a long and thrilling stretch duel Sunday at Keeneland, where Humaita barely out-nodded Aud in the 1 1/2-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

Humaita, the 8-5 favorite under Robby Albarado, got her nose ahead when it counted to barely nip Aud, the 2-1 second choice in a field of seven. Literacy finished eight lengths back in third.

"It's just one of those things where it was a head bob," said Pat Day, who rode Aud. "We took the lead and just couldn't hold our position."

ELMONT, N.Y. - Crown Point held on for a three-quarter-length win to capture the $82,725 Pilgrim Stakes for 2-year-olds on the grass on the closing-day card of Belmont Park's fall meet on Sunday.

Under Jose Espinoza, Crown Point ($39.40) received a ground-saving trip while stalking the pacesetter, Kfar Daniel, in the 1 1-8-mile inner turf race. Tadreeb, the favorite, didn't fire and finished fourth.

Wallstreet Scandal was second, a half-length in front of Drum Major.

Crown Point covered the distance in 1:50.31 over a good course.

ARCADIA, Calif. - After finishing behind the best 2-year-old fillies in California earlier this year, Hello Lucky found a field that could not keep up with her in Sunday's $85,350 Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, Hello Lucky ($6.60) led throughout the Anoakia, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 9-1 No Bull Baby. Hello Lucky ran six furlongs in 1:10.

"She's a quick filly," Stevens said. "She wound up relaxing for me an eighth of a mile out of the gate and I got to give her a little bit of a breather around the turn."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Commercante, under a perfectly timed ride by John Velazquez, wore down odds-on Punctilious to capture the Grade 1, $750,000 by a half-length here Sunday.

Punctilious, invading from England for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Frankie Dettori, finished second in the field of eight fillies and mares traveling 1.25 miles on a "good" turf course.

Classic Stamp finished strongly to be third, a neck behind Punctilious, with French invader Samando ending fourth.