OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Little Matth Man had already shown the ability to handle two turns, Aqueduct's inner track, and a wet surface. He used all that experience to his advantage Saturday when he rallied from last to win the $82,875 Whirlaway Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Risky Trick, who received a perfect trip behind a three-ply speed battle, settled for second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the front-running favorite Quick Action. Christian Anthony, Jaglander, Acclimate, and Sinister G completed the order of finish.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Action This Day might spend the rest of his career trying to prove his 26-1 upset in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was more than just a fluke. Or, he can step up Sunday and erase all doubt in his comeback race at Santa Anita.

Seven 3-year-olds entered the $75,000 Sham Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race that is merely a starting point for Action This Day, the 2003 champion juvenile. A win in the Sham would provide the ideal launch and validate Action This Day's status as a leading Kentucky Derby, one with a style and pedigree to run all day.

ARCADIA, Calif. - F J's Pace, a 9-year-old gelding, has won more in the last year than at any time in his seven-season career.

Friday at Santa Anita, F J's Pace won an $80,000 claiming race on the hillside turf course, his 17th win in 60 career starts.

The front-running victory ended a three-race losing streak, his longest since the spring and summer of 2002. It also marked his eighth win in 21 starts on Santa Anita's turf course and was his sixth victory in the last year.

"He hasn't shown any signs in the morning that he's slowing down," said trainer Doug O'Neill.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez along with Kiaran McLaughlin and Richard Migliore form two of the most potent trainer-jockey combinations in racing. But for one race Sunday, teammates will become rivals when they swap allegiances in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Shirley Jones Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Madcap Escapade, whose sparkling career debut earlier in the Gulfstream meet evoked memories of another Frank Brothers trained 3-year-old named Pulpit, is among the 19 3-year-old fillies nominated for next Saturday's $100,000 Old Hat Stakes at six furlongs.

Madcap Escapade overcame a sluggish start to draw away to a 10-length victory in her first start on Jan. 4. Her final time of 1:09.38 earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

NEW ORLEANS - The decision has been made: Badge of Silver is going to Maryland to run in the Grade 2 General George Handicap on Feb. 16 at Laurel. All that remains is getting the horse there, but that's not a simple task.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Sir Cherokee remains on course for the Grade 2, $500,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Feb. 29 after breezing four furlongs in 50.40 seconds Thursday under regular rider Terry Thompson.

The work was his first since a powerful three-quarter-length win in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park on Jan. 17.

ALBANY, Calif. - Seven colts under consideration for next month's Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real will get a big test Sunday in the $75,000-added Golden State Mile at Golden Gate Fields.

The test comes in the form of a filly, Bending Strings, who has drawn the rail against her seven male rivals in the one-mile race.

"It's not a very orthodox thing to do, but I don't have any other option," said Jerry Hollendorfer, the trainer of Bending Strings.

Citing a 10 percent reduction in handle through the first 64 days of the current meeting, Golden Gate Fields officials announced Friday that purses will be cut 3.8 percent beginning Wednesday.

In addition, the purses for the Richmond, San Carlos, Danville, and Soviet Problem overnight handicaps will be cut from $60,000-added to $55,000-added.

Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino could be entitled to a refund of $54 million after the state's supreme court ruled on Tuesday that different tax rates for Iowa's gambling facilities violated the state's constitution.

The ruling held that the state could not tax riverboat casinos and land-based casinos at different rates. Under the current tax policy, riverboats are subject to a 20 percent gambling tax, while racetrack casinos were taxed at an escalating rate that would have reached 36 percent by next year.