Hot Hoofs N Traffic, 6 for 9 last year, is looking for his first 2004 victory in the trials to the Bayer Legend Central Challenge for 3-year-olds at Canterbury Park on Sunday.

In 2003, Hot Hoofs N Traffic won two minor Midwestern futurities, the Grade 2 Kansas Jackpot and the Grade 3 Iowa Double Gold.

This year, he has taken on stronger competition in his two starts. He finished second in his Remington Park Derby trial and qualified for the Grade 1 derby, but finished ninth.

Dash to the End may pass

AUBURN, Wash. - Enduring Light will come equipped with a couple of intriguing angles when she takes on eight other 3-year-old fillies in Friday's Emerald Downs feature, a six-furlong sprint for non-winners of two races, eligible to be claimed for $15,000.

CALGARY, Alberta - With large pools and attractive payouts, the superfecta has rapidly become the exotic wager of choice for Stampede Park bettors. Friday's featured fifth race, a conditioned optional claimer at six furlongs, provides one of the most interesting scenarios of the season.

There is plenty of speed in the field of 10, including Smooth Cruiser, who led most of the way in the Stampede Park Sprint Championship on May 8.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Suddenly, Crown Pacific found himself somewhere nobody in a long time had expected him to be: in front.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Will Farish and his longtime private trainer, Neil Howard, have become known for never pushing the envelope, but rather allowing their horses to develop at their own pace.

But this may be taking things a little far.

Jockey J.J. Sunseri was nominated by riders in the River Downs colony last week for the first annual Michael Rowland Memorial Jockey Award.

Named in honor of the popular rider who died last winter in a racing accident at Turfway Park, the Rowland Memorial Award recipient will be chosen this fall from a group of nominees from tracks throughout the Midwest, including River Downs, Turfway Park, Thistledown, Beulah Park, and Mountaineer Park - tracks at which Rowland rode with distinction during his career.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - There should be value galore available in Friday's turf allowance feature at Louisiana Downs, in a field that could hardly be more diverse. The non-winners of a race other-than drew 11 horses, including one also-eligible.

Red Soldier could be the lukewarm favorite in the "about" 1 1/16-mile race, if for no other reason than he won a race over the course last year, a rare achievement in this group with limited turf experience.

Formidable Gold returns to the main track and should be a solid choice in Friday's feature race at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Formidable Gold will meet seven rivals in the one-mile allowance race.

SHAKOPEE, Mn. - Among the new faces at Canterbury Park this summer is jockey Iram V. Diego, who came to Minnesota from Chicago.

Diego didn't take long to make an impression on Canterbury regulars, splitting the third race field on opening night with 53-1 longshot Clearly a King, his first ride of the meeting.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Boosted by the Preakness Stakes last Saturday, the opening weekend numbers for Lincoln State Fair got the meet off to a good start. The mutuel handles Friday and Sunday were nearly identical to last year's figures, but Saturday saw a 33-percent jump in handle on the live races, with $133,007 bet compared with $101,399 a year ago.