ELMONT, N.Y. - There was no catching Society Selection in the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct last month, but Bending Strings came the closest.

Bending Strings doesn't have to worry about Society Selection in Saturday's $200,000 at Belmont Park, and there are no standouts among her eight rivals.

In the Comely, Bending Strings finished second, beaten three lengths by Society Selection, a Grade 1 winner. Bending Strings made the lead around the turn in the one-mile Comely but was passed by Society Selection with a furlong remaining.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer John Ross has been through the Queen's Plate grind plenty of times in recent years, with such horses as Arco's Gold, Shaws Creek, Catahoula Parish, and John the Magician. They all looked like viable contenders, only to lose on the big day.

That's why Ross is laying low this year with Picadilly Bay, a promising Canadian-bred 3-year-old colt he trains for Gary Wellwood and Larry Titchner.

CHICAGO - The question is whether Beret can come back strong after a 30-week layoff, but it is a question she already has answered. Last June, Beret raced after spending about seven months on the shelf, and she cruised to a second-level allowance victory over the Arlington Park turf course. The scene Saturday is Hawthorne's turf, and Beret runs in the $40,000 Nicole Stakes, but the forecast is for a similar result.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Questions abound regarding Saturday's $166,350 Queenston Stakes, a prep for the June 27 Queen's Plate at Woodbine.

Will Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk bounce off his impressive score two weeks ago in the Woodstock Stakes? Are Twisted Wit's gate problems behind him? How will A Bit O'Gold, a Queen's Plate winter-book favorite, fare in his first start of the year? Can Gold Gunner rebound off a poor performance at Keeneland? How will turf specialist Mr. J.T.L. handle the main track?

AUBURN, Wash. - Maria Kay and Comstock Glory, the first and second finishers in a $4,000 claiming test here on April 18, will hook up again in Saturday's top offering, a 6 1/2-furlong race for $6,250 claimers that has drawn a field of eight fillies and mares.

Maria Kay won the April 18 matchup by a length after leading throughout five furlongs in 57.20 seconds. She benefited from a potent speed bias that day, and she again appears to be the speed of her field on Saturday. Plus, she has won before at the 6 1/2-furlong distance.

CALGARY, Alberta - Rindanica won the major prep for the Stampede Park Sprint Championship, and on Saturday he seeks to validate that score versus six rivals in the $40,000 Sprint Championship, traditional kickoff to the stakes schedule at the spring meeting.

A 4-year-old son of Roy, Rindanica enjoyed a productive 3-year-old campaign and opened his 2004 season with a four-length tally in the Sprint prep under mild urging from his regular rider, Perry Winters.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - There should be a quick enough pace to set up the late moves of Joyride and Future Flash in the Saturday feature race at Hastings, a $50,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint appears to be wide open and Joyride, who is the lone stakes winner in the field, figures to be a lukewarm favorite.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Beau's Town, who developed into one of the nation's top sprinters last year, will add blinkers Saturday for the $75,000 Ford Express Stakes at Lone Star Park.

The six-furlong race will be his second start of the year, and he will face five others, including Where's the Ring, second to Shake You Down in the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 8; Grand Steal, who is shooting for his third straight win; and That Tat.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Northern California stakes races, particularly graded races, are often filled with runners from Southern California, but that didn't happen with Saturday's Grade 3 $125,000 Yerba Buena Breeders' Cup Handicap at Bay Meadows.

Only Arabic Song is venturing north from Southern California for the 1 1/8-mile race over the turf.

Arabic Song has been keeping the best company and will be tough to beat Saturday in her second start of the year and second start since last August.

Unlike fine wine, racehorses aren't supposed to improve with age. The mare Misty Sixes may be an exception to the rule.