MIAMI - Trainer David Fawkes wasn't exactly shocked by Twilight Road's recent victory in the Grade 3 Miami Breeders' Cup Handicap at Calder. Pleasantly surprised might be the more appropriate way to sum up his feelings about Twilight Road's victory over a field of more seasoned turf specialists in the Miami Mile.

The $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap and the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup are the top stakes on a roster of 44 events worth over $2 million at Turf Paradise, which opens its 2004-05 season Friday, Oct. 1. The meet runs through May 22, 2005.

The Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap, a one-mile turf race, routinely attracts not only the best middle-distance turf runners in the Southwest but some of the top Southern California runners, as well. The race is slated for Feb. 12. Also on that card are the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $75,000 Arizona Oaks.

Tour the Hive survived a claim of foul to defeat 1-5 favorite Wiggins in Tuesday night's $75,000 Fall Handicap at Mountaineer.

A 7-year-old gelding who rarely races beyond six furlongs, Tour the Hive ($13) raced one-two with Wiggins for the entire 1 1/8 miles of the Fall. Wiggins led for much of the race, but Tour the Hive made his move at the quarter pole and took the lead at the top of the stretch.

A new restricted stakes for 2-year-olds will be added to Philadelphia Park's stakes schedule in 2005.

The $40,000-added South Carolina Residency, at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track, will be run for the first time on Nov. 5, 2005.

To be eligible, a 2-year-old must have spent at least 90 days in South Carolina and his owner must have paid a nomination fee to the South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Purses here will get a $1,000 boost across the board effective with Thursday's racing. The increase brings the bottom purse to $8,000. The purse for an Indiana-bred maiden special weight goes up to $14,500 and the top level of nonwinners-of-three will be run for $16,500.

Azoom, winner of eight races including the $283,422 TQHA Sale Futurity, faces the most challenging test of his career in the Grade 1, $350,000 Sam Houston Futurity on Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

Azoom won his first four starts in Mexico City, then shipped to Sam Houston Race Park and became the fastest qualifier to the $134,748 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity, the TQHA Sale Futurity, and the Sam Houston Futurity. He finished second in the Sires Cup Futurity, one of only two defeats in his 10-race career.

The highly anticipated confrontation between two-time champion AB What a Runner and Vessels Maturity winner Mongoose Jet Eye will take place in the Grade 1, $100,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap for females at 400 yards on Saturday night at Los Alamitos. The result will determine the leader in the aged mare division.

Bullions N Garters will be shooting for her fifth straight win in the Grade 3, $58,200 Altoona Derby, the highlight of the Quarter Horse Festival of Racing on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows.

Bullions N Garters comes off a fastest-qualifier performance in the Altoona Derby trials, 20.12 seconds for the 400 yards.

Also on the Saturday night card is the Grade 2, $150,650 Valley Junction Futurity. Dashin Belladonna comes off an impressive trial victory and the fastest trial time, 17.62 seconds for the 350 yards.

New Mexico-bred juveniles will be divided by gender when they race in the Grade 3, $98,000 Senorita Futurity and the Grade 3, $94,000 Senor Futurity at the New Mexico State Fair on Saturday afternoon.

Double Down Baby tops the Senorita Futurity for fillies. She has won three of four career starts, including setting the fastest qualifying time of 19.82 seconds for 400 yards in her trial.

Gotta Get, the probable favorite in the Senor Futurity for colts and geldings, scored his third win in five starts, setting the fastest qualifying time of 19.66 seconds for 400 yards.

Imperialism will be the most proven horse in Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, but there are a couple of challenges he must overcome. Not only will Imperialism be making his first-ever start following a layoff, he will also be wearing a new set of blinkers, which is significant because his vision in his right eye has long been impaired.