ARCADIA, Calif. - Lady Annaliese deserves to be a short-priced favorite when she attempts to win her second stakes in Friday's $70,000 La Zanzara Handicap at Santa Anita.

In four starts since arriving from New Zealand, has won twice, including the minor Hermosa Beach Handicap at Hollywood Park in December. Her last race was a troubled second to Volga in the Grade 2 La Prevoyante Handicap at Calder on Dec. 27, a finish that did not discourage trainer Bobby Frankel.

"She got trapped a little on the rail," Frankel said. "The filly that beat us is a nice filly."

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Finally, some respect for Mr. Jester. A winner of 4 of 6 starts, he was dismissed at double digit odds in both the $1 million Delta Jackpot, which he won at 14-1 on Dec. 5, and the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile, in which he was placed first at 20-1 on Sept. 13

But the story will be different Saturday. Mr. Jester is the probable favorite for the Grade 3, $150,000 Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Maria Kay might have found a group she can beat Friday at Portland Meadows when she goes postward in a 4 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares eligible to be claimed for $5,000.

Maria Kay, a 5-year-old who races for trainer Fred Hepton, appeared to have a bright future in November 2002 when she ran second to the formidable Icicle Angel in the six-furlong Diane Kem Stakes. She failed to win in three subsequent starts that year, however, and was winless in four starts last year.

NEW ORLEANS - Traffic was light during training hours Wednesday at Fair Grounds, where low clouds and a steady rain turned the morning miserable and the track soupy. Braving the elements just after the renovation break was the Louisiana Derby hopeful Fire Slam, who worked a strong five furlongs with jockey Shane Sellers aboard.

Fire Slam was timed in 1:01.60, much the fastest of 15 works at the distance Wednesday. It was a key breeze for Fire Slam, who is battling a nasty quarter crack, and trainer David Carroll was pleased with it.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - If he can handle dry footing as well as he handled the snow and the mud last time out, Big Sid's Party will be the one to beat in Friday's feature at Aqueduct, a $50,000 fourth-level allowance race.

Big Sid's Party has not run over a dry track since June 29, when he finished fifth in a $75,000 claiming race. That race was at seven furlongs, and Big Sid's Party has been more proficient at longer distances for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The first edition of the Canadian Thoroughbred Ratings, which replace the Canadian Free Handicap, were released Wednesday by the Jockey Club of Canada.

The Canadian Ratings follow the model of the International Classifications, which were announced in London, England, last month.

"The rationale of changing the format is to reasonably rate horses running in Canada with the existing International Classifications method," said Chris Evans, Woodbine's director of racing.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who has been suspended since Jan. 23 for failing to appear for a drug test the preceding day, met with the Santa Anita board of stewards for 30 minutes on Wednesday, the first stage toward a possible reinstatement.

Valenzuela contacted stewards Ingrid Fermin, Pete Pedersen, and Tom Ward on Sunday requesting themeeting. The next step in Valenzuela's possible reinstatement would be a formal meeting, which has not been scheduled.

Churchill Downs Inc. had net income in 2003 of $24.1 million, compared with net income of $21 million in 2002, although revenue at its tracks in Indiana and Southern California dropped markedly.

Earnings for 2003 were $1.80 a share, compared with $1.57 a share last year, according to the company's financial statements, which were released late Tuesday.

Lone Star Park near Dallas has received requests for more than 15,000 seats for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, two weeks after applications were made available. The championship series will be held on Oct. 30. Seat prices range from $25 to $125. Requests must be submitted by June 4 for a drawing to determine the processing order.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Wednesday began an investigation into whether "normal procedures were followed" in the Feb. 4 accident at Turfway Park that led to the death of jockey Mike Rowland, according to Jesse Skees, interim executive director for the authority.

Skees said Wednesday that a request for an investigation had been made by LaJuana Wilcher, secretary of the Office of Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, the state agency that oversees the racing authority.