SAN MATEO, Calif. - With the presence of Lacie Girl, Northern California's top female sprinter, Sunday's $60,000 Charles H. Russell Handicap at Bay Meadows is likely a contest for second.

Lacie Girl has been virtually unbeatable at the Russell distance of six furlongs, with seven victories in eight Northern California starts. Her lone loss was by a nose to Ema Bovary in the Soviet Problem Handicap.

"When I get a horse that likes a certain distance, I try to keep the horse there," said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

STICKNEY, Ill. - About the only thing that would bring clarity to the $40,000 Crafty Drone Stakes at Hawthorne on Sunday is rain.

The Crafty Drone, scheduled for a mile on turf, drew 11 entrants when the race was drawn Friday, and it'll take hair-splitting to separate the top contenders if the race stays on grass.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Mike Machowsky and jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. are likely to have a brief strategy session before Fencelineneighbor starts in Sunday's $100,000 Harold Ramser Handicap at Santa Anita.

Machowsky learned his lesson after giving elaborate instructions to Valdivia before Fencelineneighbor finished fifth in the San Clemente Handicap on Aug. 2. He shortened his presentation for the Barona Cup Handicap on Aug. 23.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dream About will stake her claim to the Sovereign Award as Canada's champion 2-year-old filly Sunday at Woodbine in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes. The race could be a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Six other Canadian-breds were entered in the 58th running of the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth, which has been won by numerous champions, including La Prevoyante and Dancethruthedawn.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Roscoe Pito should have things his own way when he faces seven others in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Premier's at Hastings, and if he can handle the taxing 11-furlong distance, he will be very tough to beat.

EDMONTON, Alberta - An optional claimer for older horses at 1 1/16 miles is Sunday's feature at Northlands.

Seven-year-old Code Name Fred, Alberta's champion older horse in 2000, is coming off a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint at 11-1. Quincy Welch has the return mount from post 6.

Code Name Fred beat a similar group three races ago at a mile.

Bubblegum Kid, who won the Speed to Spare a year ago, is looking for his first score of the year. In his last four races he has a second, two thirds, and a fourth.

FRESNO, Calif. - My Captain, who has scored two straight stakes victories, and Beyond Brilliant, a multiple stakes winner who returned to his winning ways in his last start, top a field of seven in the $50,000 Bull Dog Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair on Sunday.

An additional $10,000 was added to the purse and a California-bred restriction was lifted this year in hopes of attracting a strong field for the lone Thoroughbred stakes of the meeting.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Grade 3, 1 3/8-mile British Columbia Premier's, which runs Sunday at Hastings, is supposed to be the premier race for 3-year-olds and up in the province. Traditionally, it's also the first time 3-year-olds take on older horses here, and the last two renewals have been won by 3-year-olds (Shacane in 2002 and Fancy As in 2001).

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Ten-year-old Major Zee, after being shut out in his six 2002 starts, has once again found his way to the winner's circle.

On Tuesday, Major Zee scored for the fourth time since he began his new season five starts ago on July 28. Mark Fournier, who was licensed as a trainer just last October, is the one who has put the gelding on the right path.

Fournier, a 32-year-old native of nearby Welland, was offered Major Zee to train early in the year. Major Zee had wintered on a farm and had been off for six months.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Some seem ready to concede Sunday's Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine to Dream About, who is coming off an impressive win in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine for trainer Josie Carroll.

But Ken Parsley, while having a healthy respect for the favorite, is not among them.

Parsley is the trainer of My Vintage Port, who is the star of his six-horse stable and will break from post 4 under regular rider Jono Jones in the field of seven Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies for the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth.