ARCADIA, Calif. - Hosco will have to slow down to preserve his unbeaten record when he starts in Saturday's $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.

In three starts, has won an $80,000 claimer for maidens, an optional claimer, and the Grade 3 San Miguel Stakes, all over six furlongs.

In the San Miguel, Hosco set a remarkable pace of 21.03 and 43.80 seconds before winning by a length over Roi Charmant.

A similar display of speed may make it difficult for Hosco to last the seven furlongs of the San Vicente.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Cajun Beat, his sights set squarely on a championship he missed last year, seeks to put a stranglehold upon the division leadership when he carries top weight of 123 pounds in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Deputy Minister Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

, is likely to be scratched from the Deputy Minister after drawing the rail, his trainer, Mark Hennig, said Thursday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - With a Grade 1 victory to her credit and a pair of Hall of Famers in her corner, figures to be a heavy favorite in Saturday's $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park. But questions over her ability to handle two turns, and the presence of some fast-rising rivals, make the Davona Dale far more than a one-filly race.

PORTLAND, Ore. - An evenly matched field of eight, including a stable coupling, will go six furlongs in Saturday's $10,000 Ms. Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Many fans will find the Jonathan Nance-trained entry of Kya Jo and Reignsofire attractive, if only because it offers two chances in the wide-open field. Kya Jo outfinished her stablemate by a half-length in winning the OTBA Stallion Stakes here on Jan. 3, but that was only Reignsofire's second start, and Nance says she has room for improvement.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Javier Santiago, a top rider in Puerto Rico in recent years, won two races on Wednesday at Santa Anita, making a splashy debut in his first day of riding in California.

Santiago, 26, had six mounts on the eight-race program and won with Lady Sax ($6.20) in the fifth and Grant Marty a Wish ($6.80) in the seventh. He finished third in the final race.

"It's incredible," he said in halting English after the last race. "I'm so happy."

Jockey Mike Rowland was in critical condition Thursday evening at a Cincinnati hospital with severe head trauma following a three-horse spill at Turfway Park on Wednesday night.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - With Anticipation didn't win Thursday's one-mile allowance feature on the turf, finishing third behind Del Mar Show and the highly regarded Chilean-bred Host, but trainer Jonathan Sheppard came away smiling nonetheless.

"He ran well and did it with enthusiasm," Sheppard said. "We knew the race wasn't going to set up well for him, especially at that distance, but he handled himself nicely and Pat [Day] gave him a well-judged ride."

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Quick Action has shown that he will at least be a useful 3-year-old sprinter for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and the Overbrook Farm. Whether he can be more than that may be determined Saturday.

, who has yet to race beyond six furlongs, will try to stretch his speed around two turns against modest competition in the $75,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct. The Whirlaway is run at 1 1/16 miles.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Javier Castellano probably won't repeat as leading rider at Aqueduct's inner-track meet, but the 26-year-old Venezuelan native is enjoying a successful winter nonetheless.

Castellano has himself a promising 3-year-old in Eurosilver, who made a triumphant return to the races Wednesday at Gulfstream Park. And he also has himself a big fan in Nick Zito, the trainer of Eurosilver and several other promising 3-year-olds.

The prospective field for the General George Handicap has suddenly gotten a lot stronger.

Badge of Silver, who posted a sizzling 113 Beyer Speed Figure in his return from a 10-month layoff, and Grade 1 winner Valid Video have been supplemented to the General George, a Grade 2, seven-furlong race scheduled for Feb. 16 at Laurel Park.