ARCADIA, Calif. - The Herc, claimed for $50,000 out of a maiden race on Oct. 9, won his stakes debut in Saturday's $81,975 Sunny Slope Stakes for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita.

The win came two days after the death of owner Sam Longo, 96.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, The Herc battled with Voladero throughout the six furlongs, setting wicked fractions of 21.26 and 43.83 seconds. Entering the stretch, the two were separated by a head, with The Herc holding a lead.

He was passed in midstretch by Voladero but fought back to win by a head, finishing in 1:09.51.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ballingarry, who would have been looking for his second straight victory in the Grade 1 Canadian International here at Woodbine Sunday, has been scratched after developing an infection in his right hind hock.

Ballingarry had arrived early Wednesday morning from California, where he is trained by Laura de Seroux, and was the 4-1 morning-line second choice for the International.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Trainer Debbie Sones hoped to find a horse that could be improved when she claimed Crown Point Summer for $6,000 on Aug. 20 at Monmouth Park.

"I thought he might be a horse we could help turn around," Sones said. "He looked like he was sound, and we thought with work he could improve a little bit."

In three starts for Sones, Crown Point Summer's improvement has been dramatic.

Crown Point Summer aims for a second straight victory on Tuesday in a $32,500 optional claiming race for New Jersey-breds at The Meadowlands.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Less than two months after Storming Home turned right at the finish of the Arlington Million, the bizarre returned to turf stakes racing in Chicago. Blue Blood Boot led into the stretch of the $250,000 Hawthorne Derby on Saturday, but he turned left, breaking through the inner rail, and finished without jockey Larry Sterling and on the wrong side of the fence.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Well Fancied held off a late charge by Gander to win Saturday's $250,000 on New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park before a crowd of 10,214.

Well Fancied finished a half-length in front of Gander, who won the Empire Classic for New York-breds in 1999 and 2002. Mr. Determined, who was 68-1, finished third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Gander.

Completing the order of finish in the 1 1/8-mile Empire Classic were Spite the Devil, Compelling World, Traffic Chief, Acceptable Venture, Private Emblem, and Lord ofthe Thunder.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Two Finger Lakes shippers, One N Three and Impeachthepro, came to Belmont Park Saturday and took all the money in the $125,000 Hudson Handicap. One N Three won by three-quarters of a length over Impeachthepro. It was a neck back to No Parole in third in the six-furlong Hudson.

Bossanova, the 3-5 favorite, set a scorching pace and finished fourth, a neck behind No Parole. It was Bossanova's first start since winning the Mike Lee by 13 1/4 lengths in June.

Under Shaun Bridgmohan, One N Three came from off the pace with a wide move into the stretch.

Princess Dixie accomplished what she couldn't last year by winning the $125,000 Iroquois Handicap.

Princess Dixie came with a late charge to catch She's Got the Beat in the final strides. Last year, Princess Dixie finished second in the Iroquois.

Princess Dixie, the 4-1 favorite, was a neck winner over She's Got the Beat in the seven-furlong dirt race for New York-bred fillies and mares. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Grab Bag in third.

Under Mike Luzzi, Princess Dixie rallied from the back of the 13-horse field.

Quiet Ruler, who won last year's Mohawk Handicap at odds of 45-1, pulled off another shocker in the $150,000 race, rolling to a 4 1/2-length win at odds of 20-1. For the second straight year, jockey John Velazquez picked up the mount after someone else had been named at the time of entry.

Trainer Russell Mueller said that Wilson Dieguez, whom Mueller named to ride, left town a couple of days ago. Mueller also said that the agent for Mark Guidry, who rode earlier on the card, declined to ride. Velazquez became available when I'm All Yours was scratched due to a fever.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Under a flawless ride from Pat Day, Dyna Da Wyna wore down longshot Mexican Moonlight to win the $112,900 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length Saturday.

Dyna Da Wyna, perfectly positioned early in the Grade 3 turf race for 3-year-old fillies, edged closer to the front with a quarter-mile to go. Down the stretch, Mexican Moonlight, a 24-1 shot under Corey Lanerie, hung tough, but Dyna Da Wyna proved clearly best, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.54 over firm going.

Trainer John Hertler suffered a tough beat earlier on the card when Schemer was narrowly defeated in the Maid of the Mist. Hertler made up for that loss by winning the $150,000 Ticonderoga Handicap with Lady Bi Bi.

Lady Bi Bi ($27) won the Ticonderoga, a 1 1/8-mile grass race for New York-bred fillies and mares, by a half-length over Brandala. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to Beebe Lake in third.

Lady Bi Bi, who was ridden by Jose Santos, had the lead with a furlong remaining and held off a late charge by Brandala. The final time was 1:55.67 over a soft course.