VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Slewpast has a lot to overcome in the Timber Music Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hastings on Saturday. She's never gone around two turns before and she drew post 9.

The Woodbine Entertainment Group, citing declining business in its wagering and slot machine operations, has announced an average decrease in purses of 5 percent at Woodbine beginning Wednesday, July 28.

All races except the regularly scheduled stakes program will be affected, with the decrease for the majority of races set at 3 percent.

Maiden claiming, conditioned claiming, and the optional claiming maiden and conditioned races will take a 10 percent hit.

MIAMI - Trainer David Brownlee will double-team the opposition in Saturday's $75,000 Nancy's Glitter Handicap at Calder, which is run at 1 1/16 miles. Brownlee will send out his talented filly and mare tandem of Secret Request and Dakota Light against seven rivals, including Pampered Princess and Firm Reality.

Over much of the Churchill Downs meet, Mighty Military couldn't catch a break. Saturday at Ellis Park, he finally appears to have caught one - in the $75,000 Regaey Island Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on grass.

Mighty Military, a 3-year-old turf horse by Military, has caught a group of grass runners he appears to outclass. Now he just needs a little luck.

VALLEJO, Calif. - It may not be Affirmed vs. Alydar, but Saturday's $50,000 Vacaville Handicap at the Solano County Fair marks another showdown between Christmas Time and Pheiffer.

The two sprinters have met five times already in 2004, and Saturday's six-furlong race for fillies and mares is a natural spot for them to renew their rivalry.

Last year, trainer Terry Brennan returned to Louisiana Downs for the first time since the mid-1980's and won with close to 40 percent of his starters, including six straight winners in September.

This year, he is having another strong meet at the Bossier City, La., track, and on Saturday will send out Punchin' Gal as one of the top contenders in the featured 10th race. A five-furlong turf sprint for optional claimers, the race drew a full field of 12 fillies and mares. Leading rider Lonnie Meche has the mount on Punchin' Gal.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - One to Celebrate and Picadilly Bay will be joining five Queen's Plate contestants in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, Sunday's $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.

But will One to Celebrate and Picadilly Bay add significant new blood to the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales? Or will they merely be gobbled up by Niigon and A Bit O'Gold, who will be taking most of the action in the 1 3/16-mile race after dominating their rivals in the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate?

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer Robert Williams surprised everyone when his Domascas Consort ($12.30) defeated 1-20 favorite Forever Grand in the three-horse, $75,000 H.J. Addison Jr. Stakes last Sunday - even himself.

Williams, who had never won a stakes before, had his eyes glued on Nowyouseeit, the third runner in the field, who trailed throughout.

Invaders from Belmont Park dominate the $150,000 New York Derby, the richest race of the Finger Lakes meeting.

Ten statebred 3-year-olds have been entered for the 1 1/16-mile race, and the role of favorite is likely to go to either Work With Me or Swinging Ghost, who ran second and third in the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont last month.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Saturday's $40,000 Rudy Baez Stakes could determine the best 3-year-old in New England when nine locals meet in the mile and 70-yard race.

Senor Ladd is the horse to beat after winning the African Prince Stakes against Massachusetts-breds June 5. That sprint victory was the gelding's second straight and fourth score from 10 lifetime starts. Senor Ladd has a chance to prove himself as more than just a good statebred for the meet's leading trainer, John Rigattieri.