SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Cuvee rebounded from a tough-trip third-place finish in the Bashford Manor with an overpowering 7 1/2-length victory in Wednesday's Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special at sloppy Saratoga.

Breaking alertly under jockey Jerry Bailey, Cuvee outsprinted Pomeroy to a one-length lead after running an opening quarter-mile in 21.28 seconds. He maintained that advantage through a half-mile in 44.51 seconds and drew off with Bailey only waving the whip at him through the stretch. Pomeroy, the 8-5 favorite, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Limehouse.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The last really good turf mare Harvey Vanier came up with was Wade for Me, whose win in the 2000 Modesty Handicap here earned her a start in the Grade 1 Beverly D.

The caliber of horses in the race proved too demanding for Wade for Me, who wound up seventh, and it was perhaps with that performance in mind that the Vanier barn passed on this year's Beverly D. with Beret, its talented turf mare this season. Instead, Beret finds a much cozier spot here Friday in the $75,000 Estrapade Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile grass race that drew a field of nine.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After horsemen flooded the entry box for Friday's $100,000-added Yaddo Handicap at Saratoga, the racing office carded two divisions of the New York-bred filly and mare grass stakes.

Jockey Tyler Baze on Wednesday said he expects to return to riding next week after suffering injuries to his left foot in a dramatic five-horse spill at Del Mar on Monday.

Jockeys Anthony Lovato and Jose Silva suffered similar back injuries in the accident. Lovato is expected to be out for a month, according to his agent, Tommy Ball. Silva, who does not have an agent, was not taking calls at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla at midday Wednesday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fleetstreet Dancer, who has been second in three stakes races in the last year, may make his next start in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 24, trainer Doug O'Neill said.

O'Neill said the participation of the 5-year-old Fleetstreet Dancer depends on the size of the field for the richest race of the meet. As of Wednesday, there were four probables for the Classic - Candy Ride, Kudos, Medaglia d'Oro, and Milwaukee Brew.

"If it's a short field and we can get part of the purse, we'll take a look at it," O'Neill said.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Baptize, the winner of five turf stakes in 2000 and 2001, makes his California debut and first start for a claiming price in a $68,000 optional claiming race at Del Mar on Friday.

Baptize, 5, has not started since finishing sixth in an allowance race at Keeneland in April, his only start of the year. Previously trained in the East by Bill Mott and James Bond, Baptize is now trained by Bobby Frankel and is owned by Gary and Mary West. He has won 7 of 17 starts and $534,196.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The local horsemen's association and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority reached a tentative agreement Wednesday afternoon covering the purse structure for the September dates at Monmouth Park.

Under the agreement worked out between Bruce Garland, senior vice president of the sports authority, and Dennis Drazin, the horsemen's legal council, Monmouth would race five days a week in September for $250,000 per day.

Monmouth had guaranteed purses of $300,000 a day for the traditional core meet, from the weekends of Memorial Day to Labor Day.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - When nominations for Sunday's Minnesota Festival of Champions were announced this past weekend, last year's champion filly Lakeville was cross-nominated in the Distaff Classic and the Minnesota Classic.

LAFAYETTE, La. - Many jockeys go through dry spells, but few can rival the 25 years between wins for Don LeBlanc. Now 45, LeBlanc retired from racing at age 20 and sat on the sidelines until early this year when he made a comeback, highlighted by a win last month.

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Riders Dan Beck and Billy Henson were injured in separate incidents at the starting gate last Saturday night.

Henson was injured when his mount reared in the starting gate prior to the second race. He took off the remainder of his weekend mounts but has been cleared to ride again.

Beck was injured in the gate before the first race that night but was able to finish out the card. He took off his mounts Sunday with pain in his leg. X-rays revealed a chip in his left knee and a cracked knee bone, which will sideline him for two to six weeks.