ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mike Mareina had predicted that What's Up Dude would benefit from the addition of blinkers and run a much-improved race after finishing third in the 6 1/2-furlong Silver Deputy at Woodbine on Sept. 6.

And the proof of the pudding was in the eating, as What's Up Dude, under new rider Patrick Husbands, gobbled up four rivals en route to a 4 3/4-length victory here in Saturday's $136,000 Swynford at seven furlongs.

"He's very competitive; he likes to run at horses," said Mareina, who trains What's Up Dude for Kuehne Racing.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Exceptionally and El Tara, who each have won on a Wednesday night, are among a field of seven in Wednesday's Woodbine headliner, a $25,000 optional claimer for nonwinners of three.

Exceptionally has had a productive meeting for Kinghaven Farm and trainer Roger Attfield, winning 2 of 8 outings and earning $74,781. She graduated without a claiming tag in a $32,000 optional maiden race in June, winning by 5 1/2 lengths over a next-out winner.

CHICAGO - When you go weeks without winning, a four-month race meet can seem like a long time. For trainer Ron Goodridge, the 2004 Arlington season might have seemed interminable. But when it finally ended, so did his slump.

Goodridge, 7 for 106 at the just-concluded Arlington meeting, won the first race of Hawthorne's fall-winter meet Friday. In fact, the Goodridge stable won with its first two starters over the weekend, and, with luck, it might have won two more races Sunday.

"How about that, after Arlington?" Goodridge said. "Boy, that was a terrible meet."

The consistent allowance runner Hotel Hall ended a two-year, 17-race losing streak at Fairplex Park, where he sprang a $28.40 upset in the $100,000 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap on closing day of the Los Angeles County Fair.

A 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding trained by Mike Mitchell and ridden by Omar Figueroa, Hotel Hall parlayed a ground-saving trip to a neck win over Nose the Trade. Kristine's King, the 1.70-1 favorite, was compromised by a swift pace and finished 4 1/2 lengths back in third; second favorite Jake Skate ran seventh.

As much as Artie Schiller stood out on paper, he was that much more imposing during the actual running of Sunday's $200,000 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park.

Toying with his five rivals, Artie Schiller rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Jamaica while setting an inner-turf-course record. Under a vigorous hand ride from Richard Migliore, Artie Schiller covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:45.50, besting the previous mark of 1:45.69 set by Subordination in the 1997 Hill Prince Stakes.

Cheyenne Breeze ($3.20) spoiled Medium Rare's bid for a fourth straight win in the Oklahoma Classics Day Sprint, winning the $40,000 race by a 1 3/4 lengths. Medium Rare was second, 10 lengths clear of third-place finisher Shiloh Billy.

The race was one of seven stakes on the card for Oklahoma-breds, and purses totaled $315,000.

* George Taylor ($22) successfully defended his title in the $75,000 Classic, closing from last for a 1 1/2-length win over favorite Zee Oh Six.

A 4 1/2-length win by favorite Semi Lost in the $99,900 Pomona Derby gave jockey Martin Pedroza a record-equaling 48th win at the Los Angeles County Fair. Semi Lost ($5.20) swept from last to first on the backstretch, raced wide through the far turn, and dominated the about 1 1/8-mile derby. Cozy Guy was second, two lengths in front of second choice Lava Man.

Pedroza ended up winning a record 51 races at the meet.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Flamethrowintexan cruised to an easy victory in the $325,500 Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings Sunday. Lord Samarai made a late move to get up for second, but the outcome had already been decided by the time Flamethrowintexan had reached the top of the stretch with a five-length margin.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Warleigh successfully defended his title in the $150,000 Louisiana Downs Handicap Sunday afternoon, taking command in the second turn from early pacesetter Yessirgeneralsir then holding off a late charge from Waupaca. Gentlemen J J reported home third followed by Sea Dub.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jetinto Houston ($10.40) was allowed to set easy fractions and had no trouble winning the $64,475 Charles H. Russell Handicap at Bay Meadows on Sunday.

Pressed down the backstretch by the overmatched Off to the Opera, Jetinto Houston led by a head through a 22.46 opening quarter. She began to open up on the turn, leading Pheiffer by two lengths after a 45.46 half-mile. She pulled away down the stretch without ever being asked, beating favored Christmas Time by four lengths in 1:10.27 in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.