NEW ORLEANS - A year ago, Bedanken stepped onto the Fair Grounds grass course and rolled to a seven-length victory in the Pago Hop Handicap, looking very much like a major player for turf stakes.

What she has been instead is an exercise in frustration and patience for her owner, the Pin Oak Stud of Josephine Abercrombie, and trainer, Donnie Von Hemel. One physical setback after another beset Bedanken during 2003, and it is only in Friday's $60,000 Furl Sail Handicap here that the filly returns to action.

Some might perceive a stakes restricted to horses who have never won a stakes as lacking in quality, but that is not the case in the $40,000 Noel, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up Friday night at Delta Downs.

A number of promising horses have been entered in the race, including Price of Honour, third last out in the $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds; America's Storm, a $3.6 million yearling purchase who has placed in stakes in his last two starts; and Taxicat, who in his last out earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

ALBANY, Calif. - Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature race marks the return of Rough R.N., who has not run since finishing second at1-5 on Feb. 28

A 4-year-old Cal-bred filly who has 3 victories and 2 seconds in 5 starts, Rough R.N. has 10 rivals in the six-furlong allowance race.

Trainer John F. Martin said Rough R.N. has not raced because of a minor injury.

"I thought she'd need six months off, but we took a little extra time because we wanted to do the right thing," said Martin, who claimed Rough R.N. for $25,000 from her winning debut.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - In the New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap for fillies and mares here Nov. 30, the first-, second-, and fourth-place finishers were 3-year-old fillies. Those three - Shemoveslikeaghost, Ghost Chatter, and Miss Trixie - meet again at Sunland Park in Friday's $125,000-added La Coneja Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong race for statebred 3-year-old fillies.

The Maryland Jockey Club has cut purses in its first condition book for 2004 by approximately 4 percent, citing financial difficulties brought on by declining revenue.

The purse cuts were $1,000 in each race with a total purse over $15,000, and $500 for any race with a total purse lower than $15,000, according to Lou Raffetto, the chief operating officer of the MJC. Raffetto said the cuts were "hardly noticeable."

ARCADIA, Calif. - It's both the curse and delight of racing that as soon as you do something, you are asked to do it again. This is the position trainer Richard Mandella finds himself in as the nation's 2-year-olds prepare to turn 3 and embark on the road to the spring classics.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - For the first time in 21 years, Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will not win a graded stakes in New York in 2003. In fact, his only stakes win on the New York Racing Association circuit this year came in February, when Boston Park won the ungraded Whirlaway Stakes.

The Lukas stable has an excellent chance to end the year on a positive note, however, when Quick Action, a 2-year-old colt who looks to be graded-stakes caliber, faces five rivals in Friday's $60,000 Maria's Mon, an overnight stakes race at six furlongs.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - They may be able to run the Gallant Fox Handicap without Coyote Lakes, but they won't run it without his trainer, Bruce Levine. When the $75,000 Gallant Fox is run at Aqueduct Saturday for the 65th time, Levine will aim for his fifth victory in the 13-furlong race when he saddles Patriot's Song.

Levine has won the last three runnings of the Gallant Fox with Coyote Lakes, who ran in the race each of the last five years. But infirmities and old age caught up with the gallant 9-year-old gelding, and Coyote Lakes has been retired.

With the exception of the annual Claiming Crown, a one-day extravaganza devoted to blue-collar horses, there are no opportunities for claimers to run for a $75,000 purse. That's essentially what is going to happen, however, Friday night at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Nine of the 10 older sprinters entered in the $75,000 Christmas Stakes have run for a tag this year, ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. The lone exception, Crossing Point, stands out as the favorite in the six-furlong race.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Shake You Down's speed and class proved too much for his six opponents Sunday, as he rolled to an easy 2 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $109,000 Gravesend Handicap before 4,264 at Aqueduct.

Way to the Top, who dueled early with Shake You Down, settled for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Gators N Bears. Peeping Tom, Papua, Black Silk, and Presidentialaffair completed the order of finish.