MIAMI - Racing secretary Bob Umphrey did the seemingly impossible last year when he carded an entire 13-race program with 2-year-old races. The promotion proved so popular with horsemen and fans that Umphrey is ready to do it all over again when Calder presents its second annual Juvenile Showcase on Sept. 4.

AUBURN, Wash. - There is speed, speed, and more speed in Sunday's 69th renewal of the Grade 3, $250,000 , in which at least half of the 12 entrants prefer to run on or very close to the lead.

The Mile will be the highlight of an 11-race card that also includes the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff for fillies and mares at one mile.

AUBURN, Wash. - Cascade Corona and Hippogator square off as the 120-pound co-highweights in Sunday's $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff, which will serve as the highlight of a sterling undercard for the Grade 3 Longacres Mile.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Pleasantly Perfect will concede nothing Sunday when he tries to restore his reputation in the Grade 1 at Del Mar. The world's top-ranked dirt horse suffered an unexpected loss in his comeback three weeks ago, but trainer Richard Mandella suggests not to worry.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It is one year later than his legion of fans would have preferred, but will make his long-awaited Saratoga debut here Sunday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap.

And while Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, figures to be grossly overbet, this 1 1/4-mile race looks like a perfect spot for him to return to the winner's circle.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - For being one of the most talked about horses at Saratoga last year, Funny Cide also was one of the least visible.

Finally on Sunday, Funny Cide's fans will have the opportunity to see last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner in action for the first time at Saratoga in the $250,000 Saratoga Breeders' Cup.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Three members of the Del Mar turf course staff nearly caused a catastrophic accident in the seventh race Thursday, when they were forced to scramble under the rail to avoid a field of seven horses while replacing divots on the turf course.

The three men dove under the inside rail just as the field turned for home and had so little time to react that they left a plastic bucket on the course, which the runners nearly struck.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Lion Heart showed no ill effects from his front-running victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational as he blitzed through a five-furlong workout in 58.67 seconds Friday over Saratoga's main track.

The work, the fastest of 22 at the distance, will be Lion Heart's only breeze before heading to the post as the probable favorite in next Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes.

"He worked really good this morning," trainer Patrick Biancone said. "We're very happy. Now we have our fingers crossed. He worked the same as before the Haskell."

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Sense of Style was so impressive in her debut that trainer Patrick Biancone flirted with the idea of running her in the Grade 1 Hopeful against the colts rather than Friday's Grade 2 against the girls.

"It was a thought," Biancone said after Sense of Style romped to a 6 3/4-length victory in the $250,000 Spinaway at Saratoga. "But we thought this race was more comfortable to run in because it would be easier than the Hopeful."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hoper could give the brilliant South Bay Cove a run for her money in Sunday's $140,250 Ontario Debutante Stakes, a six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Hoper faced males on a sloppy track in her only start July 31, and was victorious by three-quarters of a length over the Seattle Slew colt Slew's Saga. Her five-furlong time of 59.20 seconds translated into a 66 Beyer Figure.

Trainer Dave Dwyer said he was worried about Hoper's shins leading up to her debut.