MIAMI - Best of the Rest has been a beaten favorite in three previous renewals of the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap. Still, it's not the Hooper jinx but rather the weight his horse must concede to Aeneas that most concerns trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. heading into Saturday's Hooper, which could be the final start of Best of the Rest's amazing career

Best of the Rest will carry high weight of 122 pounds in the Hooper, conceding seven pounds to defending champion The Judge Sez Who and eight to Aeneas.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - While trainer Bruce Levine has dominated the Gallant Fox Handicap, winning four of the last five runnings, Steve Klesaris knows a thing or two himself about winning the marathon stakes race for older horses.

Klesaris won back-to-back runnings of the 13-furlong Gallant Fox with Yourmissinthepoint (1995) and Ave's Flag (1996). Saturday at Aqueduct, Klesaris will seek his third Gallant Fox trophy with Tailfromthecrypt, one of several contenders in a wide-open 65th running of the stakes honoring the 1930 Triple Crown winner.

The additional furlong that There Goes Rocket will get Saturday night in the $125,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park might help him turn the tables on Roundabout Jones.

The one-mile race is restricted to 2-year-olds by nominated stallions, and it shares a program with the $125,000 fillies division, which drew the undefeated Sago.

Miss Confusion might be able to steal the show Saturday night at Delta Downs in the $40,000 Lagniappe, a one-mile race for fillies and mares who have never won a stakes.

Miss Confusion appears to be the lone speed in the Lagniappe. She also is returning to the distance of her last victory.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Full fields of competitive runners are becoming the watchword at Tampa Bay Downs and nothing illustrates that trend better than Saturday's $60,000 Pelican Stakes, a six-furlong race with a field of 14.

Deer Lake, a 4-year-old colt trained by Charlie Simon, may not race often but when he does he usually runs well. Deer Lake has won 4 of 8 starts this year and 8 of 16 lifetime. He is the choice in a race where the favorite could be 3-1 or higher.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Sunland Park's plan to join the Kentucky Derby prep picture begins Saturday afternoon, with the $175,851 Riley Allison Futurity at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Allison is the first leg of a series that culminates with the $500,000-guaranteed WinStar Derby on March 28.

A $250,000 bonus awaits any horse who can sweep the Allison, the $100,000-added Borderland Derby at a mile on Feb. 29, and the 1 1/16-mile WinStar.

FLORENCE, Ky. - Dubai Sheikh's greatest worry in Saturday's $50,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes may not be alongside him, but overhead. A stakes-winning sprinter on a fast track, he has been considerably less effective in the mud, putting him at the mercy of the weather.

But if conditions are dry - and the early Saturday forecast for the Turfway area calls for party cloudy skies - his opponents are likely running for second-place in the six-furlong Holiday Cheer.

While the king is away, one of Maryland's best young riders is making the most of the opportunity.

Abel Castellano Jr. has capitalized on the absence of Ramon Dominguez, who is on vacation, to capture the first riding title of his career.

With just four days of live racing remaining in Laurel Park's fall meet, Castellano holds an insurmountable 62-48 lead over Dominguez in wins.

ARCADIA, Calif. - On opening day of the Santa Anita winter racing season, nothing comes easy. The favorite for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Friday is buried on the rail going seven furlongs. How can Midas Eyes possibly win from post 1 in a 13-horse field? Simply by being the best and fastest horse.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Age is not slowing down Redattore. In fact, the 8-year-old may be speeding up. A multiple Grade 1 winner, Redattore worked five furlongs Monday at Santa Anita in a blazing time of 57.60 seconds, the fastest work of the morning and Redattore's final drill before he runs a 1 1/8 miles on grass Sunday in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Handicap. Redattore returned to form Nov. 29, winning the Grade 2 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park, and has won 14 of 31 lifetime. "He's on a tear," trainer Richard Mandella said after the work.