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.

Kool Humor dueled though soft early fractions and kicked clear though the stretch to win Saturday's $50,000 Prelude Stakes. In addition to the winner's share of $30,000, Kool Humor earned an automatic berth in the $500,000 Super Derby Sept. 20.

ALTOONA, Iowa - Plum Sober ($3.40) stalked the pace to the stretch before drawing off through the final furlong to score a 4 1/4-length victory over War Reality in Saturday's $72,120 Iowa Cradle for 2-year-olds on Iowa Classic Night at Prairie Meadows. The race was one of six stakes on the card for Iowa-breds.

New York Harbor ($63) rallied from next to last to win the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven at Retama Park near San Antonio on Saturday night. It was a half-length back in second to Oncearoundtwice, who finished three lengths clear of favorite There Goes Rocket.

The race was one of two 2-year-old turf stakes on the card. In the $100,000 La Senorita, Topango ($9.60) was prominent throughout for a head win over Homemaker. Bluegrass Sara, the even-money favorite, stumbled at the half-mile pole, then was pulled up in the stretch and walked off.

FLORENCE, Ky. - The big names are back from Saratoga, and Keeneland is just around the corner. A 10-race Wednesday card starts Turfway Park's fall meet, a full month of racing marked by considerably better weather and a higher caliber of racing than what Turfway fans normally experience when wintertime rolls around.

FLORENCE, Ky. - Ever since the Kentucky Cup was inaugurated in 1994, some of the sport's most high-profile trainers have supported the event by bringing their "name" horses.

That trend appears likely to hold true for the 10th running of the Kentucky Cup on Sept. 13. Bob Baffert has said he intends to ship Congaree, one of the top handicap horses in training, to Turfway for the marquee race of the program, the Grade 2, $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic.