EDMONTON, Alberta - The $75,000 Edmonton Distaff, on the Canadian Derby card at Northlands Park on Saturday, features Sly Lady, who is unquestionably the top older filly or mare in the province. But Sly Lady, trained by Ron Grieves, will have some significant obstacles to overcome in the 1 1/16-mile race.

The first is the loss of valuable conditioning time since her last start July 19. She has had a serious throat infection that forced her to stay for one full week at a veterinary clinic, where she lost a significant amount of weight.

AUBURN, Wash. - With all 12 of the hopefuls for Sunday's Grade 3 Longacres Mile having completed their preparations by Thursday morning, it remained only for the three contestants not on the grounds to arrive for all the pieces to be in place.

Gondolieri and Nose the Trade left Ontario Airport near Los Angeles at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday morning and, following a layover in Oakland, were scheduled to arrive at Sea-Tac International Airport at 4:15 p.m.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Battlements may be facing a rather tall order as the only 3-year-old in the field of eight for Saturday's Shepperton Stakes.

But Battlements, owned and bred by Minshall Farm and trained by Barb Minshall, has been pointing for the Shepperton since late June and certainly can be expected to put up a fight under the meet's leading stakes-winning rider, Todd Kabel.

"He's done everything right, from the get-go," said Minshall. "Right from day one, he's just been a little machine."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Krz Ruckus should be favored in Saturday's $132,375 Shepperton Stakes at Woodbine, but the race is by no means a gimme for him.

Seven others were entered in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired runners - Mister Coop, Wild Whiskey, Dillinger, Forever Grand, Crease Infraction, Battlements, and Sophia's Prince - and a case can be made for several of them.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Only five horses will run in the $35,000 Agassiz for Manitoba-foaled colts and geldings going a mile here Saturday night.

With two speed horses in the form of Rare Deputy and Certified Coin, the race sets up for the pace-pressers, Trebbiano and Gus Again.

The final entrant in the field, Silver Greek, tends to come from well back, and he also has a good chance if a pace battle develops.

King Robyn scored as the favorite in Wednesday's $78,800 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, notching his third stakes victory of the year.

Ridden by Alex Solis, King Robyn stalked pacesetter Swiss Lake to early stretch, reached contention with a wide rally, and won by a length. King Robyn ($6) finished five furlongs in 55.45 seconds.

"It was nice to see him settle behind horses and make a run," winning trainer Jeff Mullins said of the 3-year-old.

Swiss Lake, a 4-year-old filly, held second, finishing three lengths in front of Menacing Dennis in a field of seven.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker will probably be scratched from Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes, trainer Bobby Frankel said Thursday morning.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Medaglia d'Oro and Candy Ride, the top two contenders in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar, drew posts alongside one another when the expected field of five was entered Wednesday evening during a party at the nearby Lodge at Torrey Pines.

Medaglia d'Oro, who won the Whitney Handicap in his last start, will start from post 2, with the undefeated Candy Ride next to him in post 3. Jeff Tufts, Del Mar's morning-line maker, made Medaglia d'Oro 6-5, with Candy Ride 7-5.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With news that Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker may not be 100 percent healthy, the field for Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes swelled to eight entrants, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, Belmont winner Empire Maker, and Haskell winner Peace Rules.

It remains to be seen, however, which of that trio actually run.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Julie Krone has been given the mount on Candy Ride in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Krone replaces Gary Stevens on Candy Ride, who is unbeaten in five starts and is a top contender in the Pacific Classic, a Grade 1 race run at 1 1/4 miles.

Gary Stevens rode Candy Ride in the Grade 2 American Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 4, but he is out for a month after suffering a collapsed lung when he was thrown from the back of Storming Home at the finish of the Arlington Million last Saturday.