EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Balto Star presented trainer Todd Pletcher with an interesting decision following his victory Friday night in the Grade 2, $500,000 at The Meadowlands Racetrack.

With the Breeders' Cup looming on Oct. 30, Pletcher could elect to keep Balto Star on the dirt for the $4 million Classic. The Meadowlands Cup, his first run on the main track in over a year, was a compelling argument for that course of action. On the other hand, Balto Star is a Grade 1 winner on the grass - making the $2 million Turf a viable option.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Surprise winners in the last few races at Santa Anita on Friday has created a pick six carryover of $293,304 for Saturday's program.

The carryover is the highest of the 10-day old Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting and is the first two-day carryover of the stand.

The pick six covers the fifth through 10th races on the program, which begins at 12:30 p.m.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - D. Wayne Lukas believes that when Azeri wears the No. 1 saddlecloth Sunday at Keeneland, it will stand for something more than her post position in the $500,000 Overbrook Spinster Stakes.

"She might be the most popular horse I've ever had," said Lukas. "After she won at Saratoga this summer, Pat Day said the same thing, that he couldn't remember a horse getting the kind of reception she got."

Determining the likely pacesetter in Sunday's Grade 2 WinStar Galaxy Stakes at Keeneland is seemingly as difficult as ascertaining the winner. None of the nine entrants in the Galaxy, a $500,000 turf contest at 1 3/16 miles, have won a North American turf race wire to wire. Most have been successful closing from the middle or rear of the pack.

Only , who is making her U.S. debut after racing in France and Spain, shows a hint of front-running form in her past performances, and European races are traditionally run much slower early than those in North America.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Trainer Donnie Von Hemel said Bedanken's participation in Sunday's WinStar Galaxy Stakes came down to a number of factors: timing, a large purse, owner Pin Oak Stable's ties to Keeneland, and, naturally, fond memories.

It was just a year ago that Von Hemel won the 2003 Galaxy with Bien Nicole, who dominated the running with a 7 1/4-length triumph. She later raced in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, setting the pace before fading to ninth.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The weather was sensational - almost as good as the racing - when Keeneland opened Friday with the first of its 17 fall programs. Indeed, while an exuberant crowd of 18,681 reveled in ideal conditions, it was the series of dramatic events on the racetrack that left a more lasting impression.

ARCADIA, Calif. - is well known as the former $10,000 claimer who rose in class to finish a game second in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint. With earnings of $925,818 and 15 wins in 31 starts, the consistent 7-year-old gelding is on the verge of millionaire status and a possible return trip to the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30.

About a year ago, Mark Leib, Ty Leatherman, and Tom and Jerry Kagele tried to buy a pair of horses from owners Aaron and Marie Jones and trainer Larry Barrera. The one they thought was best got away. But they ended up with a pretty satisfying consolation prize.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron said Friday that he will step down as general manager at Santa Anita in the near future, but intends to remain in a management capacity at Santa Anita and the track's parent company, Magna Entertainment.

McCarron has served as general manager at Santa Anita since April 2003.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Lady Tak, a two-time Grade 1 winner, towers over her six rivals in Sunday's $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.

, the 122-pound highweight in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, is coming off a win in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 29. The Ballerina pushed Lady Tak's earnings over $1 million and was her second Grade 1 win at Saratoga, following her victory in the Test Stakes in 2003.