OCEANPORT, N.J. - The conditions shaped up perfectly for Native Heir to capture the $60,000 Icecapade Stakes in the slop. Native Heir relishes a wet track and he caught a surface to his liking as he won for the eighth time in 10 off-track efforts.

Native Heir ($7) dug in gamely to hold off a strong rail bid from Take Achance on Me to prevail by one length.

Two scratches reduced the field to four for the six-furlong, race, which went in 1:10.28.

Native Heir is trained by Mark Shuman for Michael Gill, the meet's leading owner. Abel Castellano rode the winner.

Devil Time completed a stakes-winning hat-trick when he responded to energetic handling by William Troilo and caught Cat Singer in the last stride to win the $75,000 Governor's Buckeye Cup at 1 1/4 miles. Deadline Dude rallied from last in the field of nine Ohio-breds to get up for third.

Skate Away, who has been racing closer to the pace since adding blinkers four starts ago, defeated Maysville Slew by 8 1/4 lengths to win the $125,000 DeBartolo Memorial. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Major Rhythm.

The race, which was scheduled for turf, was moved to a sloppy main track after wet weather hit the area.

MIAMI - Long or short, turf or dirt it just doesn't matter to Tour of the Cat. The versatile gelding added Monday's $150,000 Miami Mile Breeders' Cup Handicap to an already impressive resume with a 2 1/2-length victory over Last Stand in a race taken off the grass and decided on a "good" main track.

CINCINNATI - After Tiger Hunt surged past stablemate Lightnin N Thunder to win the 27th running of the $200,000 Cradle Stakes at River Downs Monday, there was a cohesive thought running through the minds of the winner's connections.

"There's one for the Derby watch," said Elliott Walden, who trains the first two finishers.

"The Breeders' Cup? I don't think so," said Barry Irwin, president of the colt's owner, Team Valor. "We're going to think about the first Saturday in May. Why wouldn't you?"

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Strut the Stage always has threatened to become a major Grade 1 player in the North American turf division, but has come up just short.

But there are significant signs that Strut the Stage, at age 5, is ready to take on that role this season after passing his latest audition with flying colors last Saturday at Woodbine.

The occasion was the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap, a Grade 2 race over 1 1/2 miles of turf, in which Strut the Stage won in a strong field that included six United States invaders.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - This leggy chestnut colt has been going back and forth from trainer Wayne Catalano's stable to the racetrack each morning for much of the last year. The key word here is morning.

Prairie Slam has done plenty of training, but has raced just twice. Back from a seven-month layoff, he scored a solid-looking maiden win here Aug. 16, and for the first time in his career, Prairie Slam will have a chance to build on his accomplishment.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Horses trained by William E. Morey and Chuck Peery face off Wednesday in a tough six-furlong optional $40,000 claimer for 3-year-olds.

Morey will send out Truckee River, who has three firsts, a second, and a third in five starts, and Trapper, who is coming off a victory in a $40,000 starter allowance race at the Bay Meadows Fair.

Peery will start R Pocketsfull, claimed for $40,000 from a victory at Santa Rosa in his last start.

Both Morey starters also came to his barn after being claimed.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Norfolk Knight looks ready to win his third race Wednesday in a $63,500 entry-level allowance race at seven furlongs.

In his second start, Norfolk Knight ran second over a sloppy track against Ontario-sired maiden special weight company June 4. He won just eight days later, taking an open company maiden special weight race in the mud with ease.

DEL MAR, Calif. - More distance, an easier cast of opponents and an impressive stretch rally gave Irish Warrior his first stakes win in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap.

After chasing Special Ring and Candy Ride in recent starts, Irish Warrior scored an impressive win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, rallying from seventh to run down a stubborn Continental Red.

Irish Warrior ($8.20) finished 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:12.28, scoring by a head in the longest race of his career.