LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Four weeks ago, Riskaverse and Bien Nicole were also-rans in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. But when a field of 12 turned into the stretch Saturday in the $175,200 at Churchill Downs, the pair took center stage, with Riskaverse ultimately emerging as the star of the moment.

Under a terrific ride by Cornelio Velasquez, Riskaverse wore down Bien Nicole to win the 30th running of the Grade 3 Cardinal by three-quarters of a length. Firth of Lorne was another four lengths back in third in the 1 1/8-mile grass race.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - The Racing industry in New Mexico was on the verge of collapse in 1999 when the state approved relief in the form of slot machines. On Tuesday, when Sunland Park begins an 80-day mixed meet, purses will average $250,000 per day, an increase of $20,000 a day from last year's landmark meet, during which handle increased 32 percent from the preceding year.

Glen Corbett, currently third in the Turf Paradise jockey standings, won with five of his six mounts there Friday.

Corbett, 38, won with Craklin Suzie ($7.20) and Talavesa ($4.40) to sweep the early daily double and Hookahey ($20.60) and Playoftheday ($16) in the fourth and fifth races. He then won the ninth race finale with Sportscenter Hero ($7.80).

ALBANY, Calif. - Unbeaten Wildwood Flower ($3.60) scored her first stakes victory as she ran her record to 3 for 3, winning the $65,350 Piedmont Stakes by five lengths at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Wildwood Flower was third down the backstretch, and moved closer to early pacesetter Hot Weekend and Siberian Shamrock on the turn. Under jockey Kevin Radke, she quickly established command into the stretch and pulled away for the victory over Siberian Shamrock in the four-horse field of 2-year-old fillies. She was timed in 1:09.48 for six furlongs over a fast track.

Ironton shot ahead of pacesetting Boca Bound after a half-mile, opened up a 3 1/2-length lead around the turn, and held on stubbornly against a trio of fast closers to win the $75,000 Northern Dancer for Maryland-bred 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.

Ironton hit the wire a nose in front of runner-up James, with Conservation a neck behind in third and High Watermark, the fastest closer of all, another neck behind in fourth. The even-money favored entry of Foufa's Warrior and Boca Bound finished last and next-to-last in the field of eight.

Smarty Jones broke 10th from his inside post in the field of 11 in the $50,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes for statebred 2-year-old colts and geldings at Philadelphia Park - but it didn't much matter.

Smarty Jones accelerated quickly and was in front and clear before leaving the chute. The rest of the race was uneventful for the odds-on Smarty Jones, who sped off to a 15-length victory under wraps for trainer John Servis, .

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Time of War benefited from a good trip under jockey Jim McAleney to post a $45.90 upset in the $128,500 Sir Barton Stakes at Woodbine.

Executive Legacy prompted Biddy's Lad through fractions of 23.40 and 48.06 seconds in the 1 1/16-mile race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. Favored El Gran Maestro and Time of War stalked the pace, before Time of War overhauled Executive Legacy inside the sixteenth pole to prevail by a half-length in a final time of 1:46.10 over a fast track. Biddy's Lad finished third in the six-horse field.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was Friday morning, and trainer Steve Margolis was still sweating the tough beat he took the previous afternoon when one of his horses, Adele Lucille, finished a narrowly beaten second in a maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs.

Margolis was moderately upset that the horse who finished third in the race appeared to slightly impede Adele Lucille's rally.

"The other horse was shying from the whip and coming out on us," said Margolis. "We would've won if we'd had a better trip."

VANCOUVER, British Colum-bia - It was a struggle, but after three days of hard work the Hastings racing office finally came up with seven races for Sunday's card. The feature race, an $11,000 optional-starter race for 3-year-olds and up, is a rematch between Flying Officer and Your Welcome. The 1 1/16-mile race drew eight horses and goes as the sixth race.

Flying Officer led the whole way to beat Your Welcome by three-quarters of a length in a similar spot last Saturday, and if he can get the lead again he'll be very tough to beat. He also won his previous start Nov. 1.

ALBANY, Calif. - The first steps on the northern California Derby trail begin Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with the $60,000-added Golden Bear Stakes.

Nine 2-year-olds were signed up for the six-furlong race, although some trainers did so reluctantly.

"That's the way the thing came up," said trainer Bud Klokstad, who will enter stakes winners Market Report and Corvallis Dee. "I have no other choice but to go there."