CHICAGO - The Churchill Downs meet has ended, and Kentucky-based horses are beginning to find their way into Arlington Park races on a daily basis. Luckily for the locals, Glitter Act made it only as far as the also-eligible list in Thursday's featured eighth race here.

, from the powerful Dale Romans barn, would have been one of the ones had she made it into the body of the field, but that seems highly unlikely, and Glitter Act probably will have to await another race.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Handicappers should always take notice when a top trainer confidently raises a horse up in value, while bypassing an easier spot.

Such is the case with Dynamite Cocktail in Thursday's eighth race at Woodbine, an entry-level allowance for fillies and mares.

AUBURN, Wash. - Lasting Kiss, who has been consistent but unlucky since arriving in trainer Steve Fisher's barn last December, will head a field of five $16,000 fillies and mares in Thursday's 6 1/2-furlong claiming feature at Emerald Downs.

The speed and dominance with which Crawfish King won the $50,000 Pioneer Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday suggests he will be a major force among 2-year-olds the rest of the meet.

Crawfish King won his maiden in the 5 1/2-furlong race, when he opened up by 2 1/2 lengths during a first quarter-mile in 21.81 seconds, then went on to win by 7 1/2 lengths. For his effort, he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer John Forbes worked Choose a half-mile in the mud at Monmouth Park on Tuesday and is in the process of deciding whether to run the colt in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The Long Branch is Monmouth Park's traditional prep for the $1 million Haskell on Aug. 8.

"If he trains well, we're going to run him," said Forbes.

OCEANPORT, N. J. - They're giving money away at Monmouth Park this year. Really.

Due to an intriguing law on the books of the New Jersey Racing Commission, players at this track have been able to take shots at carryover pools in pick four wagers on a handful of occasions this year. In these instances, a rare "positive expectation" has been created, in that the track pays out above what the handle is on a given pool.

OMAHA, Neb. - Horsemen's Park fires up its summer Festival of Racing Thursday with four days of live racing that will attract nearly 40,000 fans over the weekend for horses, barbecue, and fun.

AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer Aubrey Villyard joked that he is closing in on Bud Klokstad's record of 92 stakes wins at Longacres and Emerald Downs, and it is true that he is picking up his pace.

When entries are taken Wednesday for Saturday's Claiming Crown at Canterbury Park, participants are expected to include Rafael Bejarano and Steve Asmussen - who lead the nation in wins for a jockey and trainer, respectively - and Scott Lake, the leading trainer in Claiming Crown history.

The Claiming Crown, a group of six stakes restricted to horses that have raced for claiming prices of $5,000 to $25,000 in the past year, is also expected to have an imposing list of equine participants. A record 88 horses were pre-entered last week for the sixth annual event.

Summer Wind Dancer, a 4-year-old filly who has raced exclusively in California, is the 5-2 morning line favorite for Sunday's Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Summer Wind Dancer drew post 9 in a field of 10 fillies and mares in the 1 1/4-mile stakes. Victor Espinoza will fly in from Southern California for the mount.

In her last start, Summer Wind Dancer won the Grade 3 Hawthorne Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race at Hollywood Park on June 6.