CHICAGO - The grind of the Triple Crown can wear out a developing 3-year-old. Witness Funny Cide, who won the Kentucky Derby but finished a distant third in the Haskell and was a no-show last weekend for the Travers.

But the mere existence of the Triple Crown takes its toll on the 3-year-old population. Hundreds of young horses are the subject of dreams each spring, whether or not they are truly cut out to be Triple Crown horses. Take Ethan Man, who two springs ago won the Grade 3 Swale Stakes by three lengths, and became a Triple Crown hopeful.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - I B Bad ($10), who won his debut on July 27 at Santa Rosa, ran down favored Taraval in the lane to win the $52,000 Earlene McCabe Derby.

I B Bad broke a step slowly in the six-furlong race for Cal-bred 3-year-olds and was fourth early behind pacesetting Ichiban Duc and Taraval. He began closing the gap on the leaders around the turn as he continued to get a ground-saving trip. I B Bad swung out in the stretch and edged Taraval, who was lugging out a bit late, to win by a head in 1:01.20.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - One day after pulling off the upset with Valid Video in the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga, the team of Dennis Manning and Joe Bravo struck again Sunday afternoon with Ballonenostrikes in the $50,000 Choice Stakes.

"We're on a roll," Manning said. "Bravo can ride and my horses can run. I'm just along for the ride."

Bravo returned the compliment.

"He's the man," said the meet's leading rider. "He brings them to the races and I just have to hang on."

AUBURN, Wash. - Sky Jack won the Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile with a bravura performance, blistering the mile in a track-record 1:33 to score by a stakes-record 6 1/4 lengths over 6-1 shot Poker Brad. Canadian invader Lord Nelson got third at 24-1.

Raylene ($12.70) became the second straight filly to win Alberta's richest race when she ran down 2-1 favorite Taiaslew in the stretch to score a length victory in the $150,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. A year ago, Lady Shari won the derby.

Jockey Rickey Walcott had Raylene well placed through the first 1 1/4 miles of the 1 3/8-mile race before making his move at the top of the lane. Facing a five-length deficit, Raylene gained ground on Taiaslew with every stride and was up in time.

Sonic West, fresh from a win in the entry-level allowance ranks, drew off with surprising ease for a 4 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park.

Giving leading jockey Rafael Bejarano his fourth of five wins on the card, Sonic West returned $17.20 as the fifth choice among eight older horses in the one-mile Governor's. He finished in 1:37.31 over a fast track.

Trion Georgia held second by a nose over Sterling Gold, while Woodmoon, the 5-2 favorite, was never a threat in finishing fourth.

EDMONTON, Alberta - For the second year in a row the Canadian Derby, Alberta's richest race, has been won by a filly. Last year Lady Shari won it. On Saturday at Northlands Park, Raylene ran down 2-1 favorite Taiaslew in the stretch to win it by a length.

Four fillies have now won the Canadian Derby. The first was Chariot Chaser in 1965. It took 34 years for another filly to win: Native Brass, who did it in 1999.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando had his first work Sunday since capturing the Aug. 9 Breeders' Stakes. With Patrick Husbands up, Wando breezed five furlongs in 1:02 over a firm turf training course at Woodbine.

"It was just a little leg-stretcher," said trainer Mike Keogh. "He went nice and easy. He still has two more breezes to go before he runs back."

Wando's stablemate Mobil, who was second in the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate, also drilled five furlongs over the turf, going in 59.80 seconds under Todd Kabel.

DEL MAR, Calif. - There can no longer be any question about the brilliance of Candy Ride.

In Sunday's $980,000 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Candy Ride easily defeated top older horse Medaglia d'Oro to remain undefeated after six starts. The victory confirmed his status as a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, if owners Sid and Jenny Craig pay an $800,000 supplemental fee.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher believes Harmony Lodge has run well enough at times in career to win a Grade 1 race. Sunday, she finally did.

Under a hustling ride from jockey Richard Migliore, Harmony Lodge won an early pace duel with Stellar and Gold Mover then held off a hard-charging Shine Again to win the Grade 1, $250,000 Ballerina Handicap by a nose before 27,205 at Saratoga. Shine Again, the two-time defending Ballerina winner, finished two lengths ahead of Gold Mover.