HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Seven years ago, trainer Bob Durso shocked the racing world when he sent out Frisk Me Now to upset Gulfstream Park's seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes to the tune of a $213 mutuel. Frisk Me Now went on to earn more than $1.7 million and won races at distances up to 1 1/4 miles.

The 2003-04 season at Calder was successful from a racing standpoint, but it closed on Jan. 2 with mixed reviews business-wise.

Calder's multi-stakes days were big hits, with the Grand Slam I and Grand Slam II programs resulting in two of the biggest business days in Tropical Park history. The second annual Florida Million program also drew a strong card and a larger-than-normal crowd.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Potra Fabulous was a top older mare in Argentina last year, winning three group stakes in the first six months of 2003.

Whether that form can be effective in Southern California will be known to some extent when she makes her U.S. debut against four opponents in Friday's seventh race at Santa Anita.

NEW ORLEANS - One doesn't expect to find budding graded stakes runners in entry-level allowance races for older horses. But a challenge? Yes.

Fourteen horses, including two also-eligibles, were entered in Friday's ninth race at Fair Grounds, a first-level turf allowance for older fillies and mares. Somewhere in this morass is a winner, but those looking for future stars should tune into the race before, an exciting maiden sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

Where is My Daddy, a Cole Norman-trained filly who is undefeated in three starts, will face the toughest test of her career Friday night when she makes her two-turn debut against top Louisiana-bred mares Prized Amberpro and Cute N Noble in the $50,000 Camelia at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

A 6 1/2-furlong race, the Camelia should produce starters for the $150,000 Premier Night Distaff at Delta on Feb. 7.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Del Mar and Fairplex Park have made retroactive purse increases totaling nearly $900,000 after business figures during their 2003 meetings were stronger than expected.

Del Mar distributed $500,959 to owners who had horses earn purse money in overnight races. Fairplex Park paid $389,201. The retroactive payments were announced at the conclusion of each meeting.

The increases were not offered during the meetings because they were so short - Del Mar races for 43 days, Fairplex Park for 17.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A bill that would increase the takeout on exotic wagers on Thoroughbred races in California by 0.5 percent in an effort to offset workers' compensation costs paid by trainers was expected to reach a vote by the State Assembly on Thursday or Friday.

Assembly Bill 900, sponsored by Jerome Horton (D-Inglewood), was approved by the State Senate last September by a vote of 31-4. The bill was not addressed by the Assembly before it recessed in mid-September.

ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Golden Gate Derby may have only four entrants after three of the nominees were entered in a one-mile allowance race Friday.

Corvallis Dee, Dixieland Heater, O.K. Mikie, and Skipaslew are expected to enter the 1 1/16-mile derby. O.K. Mikie finished third and Corvallis Dee finished seventh in the Gold Rush, which was won by Skipaslew. Dixieland Heater won an allowance sprint on the same day. All four have run for a claiming tag at least once in their careers, and three have been claimed.

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston has reduced overnight purses and some of its stakes purses because handle has lagged behind projections this meet. Overnight purses have been reduced by 7 percent, starting with the condition book that began on Dec. 18, while stakes purses will be affected starting Jan. 17.

The reductions put the average daily purse distribution at about $102,000.

NEW ORLEANS - Hal Wiggins, the longtime trainer from Texas, has been around horses for decades. He can work with lesser stock if he has to, and Wiggins has maintained his typical winning percentage while doing just that the last few seasons. Now, the good horses have come back.

Wiggins has two 3-year-old fillies bound for Fair Grounds stakes races, and several other stakes-level horses in his barn. The quality surge began last season in Kentucky, and he has begun 2004 with two wins from four starters - and plenty to look forward to in the near future.