ARCADIA, Calif. - John Harris, the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, was within his right to issue a stay for jockey Patrick Valenzuela, allowing Valenzuela to ride anew while the appeal of his latest suspension winds its way through the state's multitiered legal system. But what kind of precedent did Harris set, and what message did his decision send?

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Gary Sciacca says he feels confident that Slew Valley will snap his 0-for-17 losing streak in stakes when he runs the 7-year-old in Saturday's $100,000-added Fort Marcy Handicap at Aqueduct. The Grade 3 Fort Marcy, the first grass stakes of the year in New York, will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

"I think, personally, he'll just gallop," Sciacca said Tuesday morning at Belmont Park, after Slew Valley worked a half-mile in 48.03 seconds. "I can't fault anything with him right now. He's on his game."

As expected, bankruptcy attorneys for Fair Grounds filed a reorganization plan early Monday evening that will pave the way for an auction of the track in bankruptcy court. The filing nixed Churchill Downs's offer last week to acquire the financially troubled racetrack, but Churchill could still emerge as a central player when the track is auctioned off.

The reorganization filing in some ways clarifies the track's messy financial situation, but the overall picture remains murky.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Supah Blitz is a Florida regular, but he's no stranger to Texas. On Tuesday morning he left his Calder Race Course base in Miami by van for Lone Star Park and Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile.

The race will be his second start in Texas. In 2002, Supah Blitz ran second in the NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile at Sam Houston Race Park.

Supah Blitz was scheduled to arrive at Lone Star on Wednesday morning. He comes into the Texas Mile on the heels of three strong races at Gulfstream Park.

Rockingham Park in New Hampshire is considering holding a brief Thoroughbred meet later this year and a longer meet in 2005 after legislation was recently passed allowing the track to hold dual racing licenses, a track official said Tuesday.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Hollywood Park turf course will be a busy place during the spring-summer meet that began this week. Two allowance races on grass are the main attractions Thursday, which means five of the meet's first 16 races will be run on turf.

On initial inspection, the course appears able to withstand the activity. The tightly cropped course resembles a pool table, coverage is thick, and early indications are that the course is in excellent shape. It should be. Until this week, the last time the turf had been used for a race was Dec. 21, closing day of the fall meet.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The country's fastest one-turn horse is likely to return to New York for the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on May 31 at Belmont Park. Pico Central earned a 116 Beyer Figure winning the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in his most recent start April 10 at Aqueduct, and will resume serious training early next month at Hollywood Park as trainer Paulo Lobo and owner Gary Tanaka deliberate running in the Met Mile.

"We haven't decided yet, but he has a good chance to go," Lobo said. "He came out of the [Carter] perfect."

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Yougottawanna may be the best horse stabled in northern California, but his assignment in the Bay Meadows feature on Thursday, an $80,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles, is not an easy one.

Among Yougottawanna's rivals is Debonair Joe, a Grade 1 winner who should get a fast pace to set up his late kick.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The crosstown move from Santa Anita to Hollywood Park represents more than a simple switch in venues. It means winter has passed, top-class turf racing soon will be in full swing, 2-year-old racing is just around the bend, and Friday night racing has returned.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela said Sunday that he intends to resume exercising horses on Wednesday at Hollywood Park, his first step toward a comeback that could lead to him riding by the weekend.

Valenzuela, who has not ridden since Jan. 19, received a stay from the California Horse Racing Board on Friday, allowing him to resuming riding while he appeals the termination of his conditional license by Santa Anita stewards on April 2.

Valenzuela had his conditional license voided for failing to submit to a mandatory drug test on Jan. 22.