HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - South Africa might be the next big thing from the Cole Norman stable. A 3-year-old, South Africa had a wide trip last Saturday, when he won a tough entry-level allowance in good time.

South Africa settled behind the pace of the six-furlong race Saturday, then drifted out near the middle of the track coming into the stretch. He got back on course in the drive and won by three-quarters of a length under Jamie Theriot.

Norman said that South Africa shied from another horse on the turn.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The 3-year-old named after New York Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui has Godzilla-like shoes to fill if he is going to be as successful as his namesake, but the gelding is already off to a promising start.

Sunday at Aqueduct, Matsui earned his second win from three starts. He is trained by Derek Ryan, who co-owns the horse with Ronnie and Bernie Masone and Barbara Kurtin. Ryan said Matsui now will be pointed to the $75,000 Best Turn Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 21.

ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Doug Utley remembers Her First Maki's last start as if it were yesterday, not nearly three years ago.

Her First Maki scored a three-quarter-length decision over Beyond Brilliant in the Sutter Handicap. The 1:08.40 clocking for six furlongs earned the young 3-year-old a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

After the race, run Feb. 10, 2001, Utley spoke with Greg Gilchrist, the trainer of Beyond Brilliant.

"I told Greg it was such a hard race it might take mine from a stakes winner to a $6,250 claimer," Utley said.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Racing at Gulfstream Park was canceled for the second straight day Monday because the jockeys deemed the track unsafe after heavy rains over the weekend.

Monday's nine-race program was canceled just prior to the first race despite sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70's. The field for the first race, a six-furlong claiming race for 3-year-old fillies, left the paddock and made it to the starting gate before the jockeys decided not to continue.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bluesthestandard ended a six-race losing streak in Sunday's $150,000 at Santa Anita, a span that covered the toughest sprints in California.

Making his first start since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint here last October, Bluesthestandard caught Marino Marini in the final furlong of the Palos Verdes and won by a length.

Ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Ted H. West, Bluesthestandard finished six furlongs in 1:08.13.

NEW ORLEANS - In trainer Dick Mandella's barn, Pleasantly Perfect is the all-star handicap horse. Olmodavor, the understudy, isn't bad either. A day after Pleasantly Perfect won the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita, Olmodavor out-kicked Spanish Empire to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Whirlaway Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Joyful Tune was placed first in the $40,000 Cheval at Delta Downs on Saturday night following the disqualification of winner Dirty Red for interference. Dirty Red, who bolted in the stretch and hit Joyful Tune, was placed seventh and last in the Cheval.

Dirty Red finished three-quarters of a length in front of Joyful Tune, and covered five furlongs in 59.90 seconds.

Jockey Gerard Melancon rode Joyful Tune for P D R Racing and trainer Cole Norman. Joyful Tune paid $7.40.

Jimmy Cracked Corn won his third straight race when he drove to a one-length win over Foxtrot Oscar in the $30,000 Bucharest at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. It was another four and three quarter lengths back in third to Polish Navigator.

Jimmy Cracked Corn raced with Next Bandit through a half-mile in 44.68 seconds, then went on to cover the six-furlongs for 3-year-olds in 1:11.89. The track was rated good.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Eurosilver, one of three Kentucky Derby hopefuls in trainer Nick Zito's barn, will make his 3-year-old debut under second level allowance conditions in Wednesday's third race at Gulfstream Park.

Eurosilver has not started since winning the Grade 2 Lanes End Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 4. The son of Unbirdled's Son won two of three starts as a 2-year-old. He has been training steadily for his return at Palm Meadows training center.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Racing at Gulfsteam Park was cancelled after the second race on Sunday when jockeys refused to continue riding due to an unsafe racetrack. The skies were sunny and the temperature was near 80 degrees at the time of the cancellation.

Nearly the entire jockey colony went out to inspect the racetrack following the conclusion of the second race on Sunday's 10 race program. Following a lengthy discussion amongst themselves and with management, the jockeys voted unanimously not to ride the remainder of the card.