DEL MAR, Calif. - It took Hall of Fame connections to win divisions of the Oceanside Stakes on Wednesday's opening day at Del Mar.

Jockey Julie Krone (induction class of 2000) won her first career race at Del Mar in the $84,300 second division aboard Devious Boy. Earlier, Sweet Return gave trainer Ron McAnally (class of 1990) his third winner in the Oceanside in the last five years.

The program was witnessed by 40,682, the highest opening day crowd and the second-highest crowd in track history. The opening day of the 2002 meeting drew 37,439.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Bill Mott is always dangerous in the Bernard Baruch Handicap. Friday, when the Grade 2, $150,000 Bernard Baruch is run for the 45th time, Mott will be double tough.

Mott, who has won four of the last five runnings of this race, will send out defending Baruch winner Del Mar Show and the multiple stakes winner Patrol in the nine-furlong race, scheduled for the turf. Of course, if it continues to rain like it has this week, the race could be moved to the main track.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The $125,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar on Friday is missing two of the top California-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Tizdubai, a full sister to two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, is waiting for the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 9. Bronze Route, a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Golden Ballet, was being pointed for the CTBA Stakes until she tied up on Wednesday morning.

Trainer Jenine Sahadi said a loose horse spooked Bronze Route on the racetrack while she was galloping.

CHICAGO - A 6-year-old gelding with top-shelf talent isn't supposed to be eligible for a fourth-level allowance race. But then there are few horses like Summer Note, who returns from a one-year layoff in Arlington's featured eighth race Friday.

Summer Note first burst onto the scene in 1999, winning his debut and an allowance race at Hawthorne, and making such short work of the competition on Chicago's West Side that he wound up in Florida that winter. At Gulfstream, Summer Note dead-heated with More Than Ready in the 2000 Hutcheson Stakes - and that was it.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Attest, a commendable second in the allowance prep for the Aug. 3 Seagram Cup Stakes, should be a serious player in Friday's featured eighth race at Woodbine.

Four other accomplished older runners will contest the 1 1/16-mile race for $100,000 optional claimers: Parose, Hot Pepper Hill, Majestic Thief, and Open Concert.

AUBURN, Wash. - Best Practices and Dashing Lady faced each other two weeks ago, finishing second and third, and they will hook up again in Friday's six-furlong feature at Emerald Downs.

The feature, for 3-year-old fillies who have not won twice other than maiden or lesser claiming races, has drawn a field of seven to race for tags of $25,000 or $20,000.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Friday's $40,000 Edmonton Juvenile at Northlands Park for 2-year-old colts and geldings will provide local fans with their first look at potential candidates for the 2004 Canadian Derby. A field of five will go to the post and all of the entrants will be running six furlongs for the first time.

Trainer Greg Tracy won this race last year with Taiaslew, and is back this time with Fantazmic. Tracy said he is uncertain as to how Fantazmic, a maiden winner at 3 1/2 furlongs in his debut, will handle the six-furlong distance.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With rain falling throughout the day, jockey Edgar Prado winning four races, and trainer Todd Pletcher winning the feature, the first day of the 2003 Saratoga meet felt like many of the 36 days of the 2002 meet.

Despite torrential rain that fell early and often, an opening-day crowd of 28,220 ushered in the 2003 Saratoga season. While short of last year's record opening-day crowd of 32,913, the figure is the third highest since Saratoga went to a six-week schedule in 1997.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Julie Krone was riding for the first time at Del Mar on Wednesday, but she apparently got the memo on the appropriate attire. With a newly colored, short blonde hairdo, Krone arrived at the track with a casual shirt, shorts, and sandals, looking as though she could blend right in with the folks who set up beach chairs along the grandstand apron.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Tactical Side, a horse owned by Michael Gill and trained by John Robb, tested positive for a banned substance after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Belmont Park on June 28, according to New York racing officials.

The horse, a 6-year-old who was graded stakes placed last year, had been claimed by trainer Greg Martin, but has been returned to Robb as a result of the positive test, according to New York stewards.