POMONA, Calif. - Handicappers planning to wager Saturday on the class of the field in the $100,000 Pomona Derby may consider increasing their wager on Semi Lost.

"He handles this track really, really nice," trainer Jeff Mullins said. "Barring someone taking us to the toolies, we'll probably be all right."

A field of eight 3-year-olds entered the Pomona Derby, and off a close sixth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, is the class of the field. But is the 1 1/8-mile Pomona Derby really a one-horse race? Hardly.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Silver Deputy Stakes runner-up The Finagler will be among the favorites in Saturday's $136,000 Swynford Stakes at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong Swynford, which lost its Canadian graded status a few years ago, has been won by the Canadian champion 2-year-old in five of the past six years.

Wholelottabourbon, the Silver Deputy winner, was under serious consideration for the Swynford, but he wasn't entered. He will run back in the Oct. 9 Bull Page Stakes, according to trainer Nick Gonzalez.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A very competitive field of nine 3-year-old fillies square off in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Oaks at Hastings on Saturday. The only problem is that most of the competition will involve the four horses trained Dave Forster, and the entry figures to be a prohibitive price. Because of the expected dominance of the entry, there will be no show wagering on the 1 1/8-mile Oaks.

EDMONTON, Alberta - The annual Alberta Fall Classic on Saturday at Northlands Park comprises seven stakes races worth a total of $400,000. The most intriguing event should be the $75,000 Breeders' Handicap.

The seven-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' includes Code Name Fred, a longtime fan favorite who likely will be appearing in his final stakes in front of Edmonton's racing faithful.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - If there was a tough-guy award for a Suffolk Downs backstretch worker, it would probably have to go to a gal. Trainer Lynette Bush saddled Beautiful Lassie to victory Wednesday, only three weeks after suffering a broken leg when kicked by a horse.

The accident occurred while Bush, who also works as a pony girl, was leading a young horse in a post parade and he spun around her pony and kicked her left leg. Bush suffered compound fractures of her tibia and fibula.

MIAMI - After getting a taste of older horses for the first time in the Miami Mile Breeders' Cup, the 3-year-old Wire Bound returns against his own age group and should get back on the winning track in Saturday's $40,000 Sir Omni Stakes on the Calder turf. The 1 1/16-mile Sir Omni serves as a prep for the Grade 3 Calder Derby on Oct. 23.

When Private Horde and Mountain General last met, they finished one-two in the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga last year. They meet again on Saturday for far less money and prestige in the $75,000 Marfa Stakes at Turfway Park.

Neither has reached his top form of last year, winning only allowances in 2004. Private Horde, who won the 2003 Vanderbilt by five lengths over Mountain General in the slop, has 1 win in 6 starts this year. Mountain General is 1 for 7.

CHICAGO - The featured 10th race on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course is a second-level turf allowance for 3-year-olds and up, but you might as well think of it as a proving ground for Hawthorne Derby hopefuls.

Ten horses entered the 1 1/8-mile race, and seven of them are 3-year-olds - no coincidence, since the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby is Oct. 16, making this a perfect prep race.

"Yeah, we're kind of pointing him toward the Hawthorne Derby, if things work out," said Jodie Sinclair, trainer of Lord Carmen, one of the 3-year-olds.

ALTOONA, Iowa - The three main contenders in Saturday's $75,000 Prairie Meadows Derby all have questions to answer.

Knox, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, must prove he is as good on the dirt as he is on the turf; Polish Rifle, the class of the field, must overcome a 7 1/2-month layoff; and Thermostat, an open-length winner in each of his last two starts, will be tested for class in the 1 1/16-mile derby, which drew a field of six 3-year-olds.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Bruce Alexander, one of the top-percentage trainers at Fort Erie and Woodbine this summer, has relocated to New Jersey for The Meadowlands meet that begins Oct. 1.

Alexander isn't waiting for opening night to take the local plunge. He entered Emerald Earrings in the $60,000 Without Feathers Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.