LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is not cutting Azeri back to seven furlongs because he has to, but because he can.

Lukas had the option of running 2002 Horse of the Year in Friday's Grade 2, $300,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup at 1 1/16 miles - a distance at which she has won seven graded stakes - or Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Humana Distaff at seven furlongs - a distance at which Azeri has never run. Azeri has not run in a one-turn race since Dec. 17, 2001, the second start of her career.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Honor in War didn't sneak under the radar. He was off it altogether when rallying to a 1 1/4-length victory in the 2003 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at 24-1. On Saturday, will get much more respect but still figures to offer betting value when he faces 10 other turf specialists in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bob McNair got one of his many thrills in racing when Congaree, his Stonerside Stable homebred, took command in the stretch run of the 2001 Kentucky Derby. Joy turned to disappointment, however, when Monarchos charged past to win and Invisible Ink nipped Congaree for second. The ensuing three years have helped to ease that bittersweet memory.

Lunarpal ran faster, but Goes will have had nine extra days in between starts. Those were the factors jockey Shane Sellers needed to contemplate when choosing his mount for Saturday's $100,000 Three Chimneys Juvenile, in which Lunarpal and Goes, both runaway winners last month at Keeneland, will face the fleet filly Classic Elegance in a five-furlong dash.

Trainer Bobby Frankel will stick with a winning formula when he sends out Etoile Montante as the solid favorite in Saturday's $100,000 Argent Mortgage Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Frankel won the 2003 Argent Mortgage (formerly called the Citgo Distaff Turf Mile) with Heat Haze, who prepped for the one-mile race with a victory in Santa Anita's 6 1/2-furlong Las Cienegas Handicap. has followed a similar path, registering a half-length victory when making her 2004 debut in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas on April 3.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After an eye-catching performance in the Bay Shore three weeks ago, Forest Danger is back in action at Aqueduct on Saturday in the $150,000 Withers.

The presence of , who is undefeated, has kept the Grade 3 Withers field to a minimum. Included in the small field were Gotham winner Saratoga Country, Best Turn winner Redskin Warrior, Oaklawn Park stakes winner Two Down Automatic, allowance winners One Tough Dude and Shaniko, and maiden winner Medallist.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Just Wonder finished second in the El Cielo Handicap on the hillside course at Santa Anita on March 21 in his first start of 2004. To trainer Laura de Seroux, it was an ideal comeback to begin a campaign that could include starts in the top races for turf milers.

Saturday, returns in the $100,000 Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park, a race that could lead to a start in the $350,000 Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile on May 31.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Grant Hofmans, the son of prominent trainer David Hofmans, is moving this summer from California to Kentucky, where he will open a public stable.

Grant Hofmans, 33, said his primary clients will be Ed and Sharon Hudon, who have purchased a farm in Lexington, Ky. The Hudons have had horses with Hofmans in recent years, including Setareh, who was third behind Gourmet Girl in the 2001 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.

"They want to race in Kentucky," Hofmans said. "They have the farm in Lexington, and they want to retire there."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby weekend began Thursday with a fitting dose of excitement when Friendly Michelle emerged best in a three-horse finish in the $112,200 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs.

By the time the field hit the far turn in the Grade 3 La Troienne, which was being run at 7 1/2 furlongs for the first time, the race had boiled down to the three favorites. Friendly Michelle, racing closest to the rail, had Ender's Sister on her throatlatch, while Bohemian Lady, the even-money choice, was poised to strike when racing just outside of them.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Passed and seemingly beaten inside the furlong pole, Nicole's Dream rallied back to edge Tangier Sound in the final jumps to win the $117,700 Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Nicole's Dream, ridden by Robby Albarado and trained by Chicago-based Larry Rivelli, led most of the way in the Mamzelle, a five-furlong grass race. Inside the eighth pole, Tangier Sound took over and appeared en route to victory, but Nicole's Dream came back to prevail by a nose.