It is counterintuitive to believe that a racetrack can cut off some of its largest bettors in order to grow handle. But that is exactly what is happening at Tampa Bay Downs, where officials stopped sending the track's signal to several huge offshore rebate sites at the beginning of the meet.

Del Mar will spend nearly $3 million for improvements in coming months, a project that includes the renovation of five backstretch barns and the construction of a permanent restaurant and new box-seat section in the grandstand.

The stable area renovation is the largest expenditure, costing $1.65 million, according to a statement released by the track.

NEW ORLEANS - Each winter and spring, Steve Wren spends hours studying the videotape of horses selling at 2-year-old in training auctions. If a horse moves smoothly, Wren takes note, and after going through the tape, he assembles a short list of prospects. On the ground, physical inspections are made, and the horses that pass final muster will get a bid from Wren when they pass through the sales ring.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Virtually every 3-year-old who wins a two-turn dirt allowance race in January is mentioned as a horse to watch down the Triple Crown trail. Such was the case with Mustanfar, who rallied to win an entry-level allowance race by a head at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

Earlier in the week, Mustanfar was mentioned as a possible starter for Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes or at least a second-level dirt allowance race on that same card.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - You wouldn't expect to see the Fall Highweight winner and second-place finisher running in a New York-bred stakes at Aqueduct in the winter, but you will Sunday in the $75,000-added Hollie Hughes Handicap.

, who won last year's Hollie Hughes, by a half-length in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight over Aqueduct's main track Nov. 27. In the six-furlong Fall Highweight, Bossanova carried 128 pounds, four fewer than Papua. In the six-furlong Hollie Hughes, they will each carry 122 pounds.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Jennifer Pedersen and owner Ernie Paragallo are not short on promising 3-year-old colts, and their top three, Redskin Warrior, Risky Trick, and Song of the Sword, were nominated to next Saturday's $75,000-added Best Turn Stakes.

On Friday, Pedersen said the horse she most wants to start in the six-furlong Best Turn is Redskin Warrior, who hasn't run since easily winning a first-level allowance race here in October.

ALBANY, Calif. - The scrutiny on stars is always intense but sometimes doesn't reflect the big picture.

The return of northern California's perennial leading jockey, Russell Baze, to the races after missing nearly two months with a displaced fracture of his collarbone is one such case.

Baze, coming off what may have been his best year, has been merely mortal in the 2 1/2 weeks since his return. His career-high 30.2 win percentage in 2003 has been cut nearly in half since his return (8 for 48, 16.7 percent).

ARCADIA, Calif. - Adoration may have won the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff last fall, but she is not the richest mare in Monday's $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita.

That distinction goes to Preeminence, a Japanese invader who has earned more than $5 million in 49 starts.

Adoration also may not go favored, a role that may go to Island Fashion, the 121-pound topweight who has won the La Brea Stakes and Santa Monica Handicap at this meeting.

Adoration drew post 6 and has seven rivals in the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap, run over 1 1/16 miles.

Anytime a horse runs well despite racing against a track bias, it's worth making a note for next time. In the case of She's a Rebel Too, her performance last month at Aqueduct deserves to be highlighted in red and surrounded by exclamation points.

She's a Rebel Too comes off an extraordinary effort against a distinct anti-speed bias in that race. She returns to her home base at Laurel Park for Sunday's $75,000 Jameela Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Gran Prospect, who finished second to The Cliff's Edge in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in his last start Nov. 29, is being pointed for the $200,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 20, said trainer Pete Vestal.

Gran Prospect is one of three Oaklawn-based 3-year-olds listed in pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby future wager. The others are Tiger Hunt, fourth last out in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Mr. Jester, who is the probable favorite for the Grade 3, $150,000 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Sunday.