ELMONT, N.Y. - An ankle injury suffered by Rodeo Licious and an illness incurred by Bikini Wiggle took two of the major players out of Sunday's $100,000 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park. Handicappers may now find it difficult separating the three logical contenders - Dixie Waltz, Feline Story, and Unbridled Beauty - in the 5 1/2-furlong race for juvenile fillies.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Bonus Pack has beaten this path before. Two seasons ago, as a 3-year-old struggling to win his maiden, Bonus Pack left Churchill Downs and two-turn racing to try a one-turn dirt mile at Arlington. He won by 13 lengths, and the victory propelled him to a 4-year-old campaign where Bonus Pack earned more than a quarter-million dollars.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dale Romans is not fit to be tied. After sharing the training title at Churchill Downs the last three spring meets - a statistical rarity if there ever was one - Romans has pulled away from the competition at the 2003 meet and seems a certainty to have this title all to himself.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Teewee's Hope will drop in class following a fine effort in open stakes company to meet Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's $166,500 Ontario Damsel Stakes at Woodbine.

The 6 1/2-furlong Ontario Damsel, run on turf, is loaded with speed, which should bode well for late-running Teewee's Hope, assuming that the course is playing fairly.

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Eight 2-year-old fillies will be looking for black type for the first time Sunday in the $40,000-added Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Alameda County Fair.

The field includes three first-time starters, four winners of maiden claiming races, and one filly who ran second in her debut. Only one member of the field, Sweet Nine, has run in a stakes before, and she was seventh, beaten 16 lengths, in Hollywood Park's Cinderella in her last start.

Sunday's five-furlong race may be a career apex for some of these. Or it may be the start of something big.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Even with Raylene spotting her rivals from six to 11 pounds, only five fillies have decided to test her in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Chariot Chaser at Northlands Park.

Raylene was the unanimous choice as Alberta's champion 2-year-old filly last year on the strength of her victories in the Princess Margaret, Bird of Pay, and Freedom of the City stakes.

She has continued her domination this spring, winning her three appearances at Stampede Park in the Mount Royal, Lilac, and Penny Ridge at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Secondary School and Elana d'Amour stand out over four other fillies and mares in the $40,000 Brighouse Belles at Hastings on Sunday. Elana d'Amour got the best of Secondary School in the 6 1/2-furlong Strawberry Morn Stakes earlier in the meet, but the advantage should go to Secondary School in this 1 1/8-mile contest.

AUBURN, Wash. - Bisbee's Prospect will head an intriguing field of seven 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's $40,000 Irish Day Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Emerald Downs.

With divisional leader Youcan'ttakeme sidelined with a minor injury, Bisbee's Prospect should be a clear favorite based on her stellar career record of three wins and a pair of thirds from five starts, including a victory in the six-furlong U. S. Bank Stakes on opening day, April 19.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Forever Grand and Small Promises, the winners of last year's Harry J. Addison Jr. and Harry A. Hindmarsh stakes, will be back at Fort Erie on Sunday to attempt to repeat.

The $75,000 events, upped from last year's $60,000 purses, are restricted to horses who were offered for sale at one of Woodbine's open yearling or 2-year-olds in training sales.

The Addison, for colts and geldings 3-years-old and up, drew a field of six, while the Hindmarsh, for fillies and mares of the same age, attracted just four. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - A renovated Louisiana Downs was met with awe by some fans filing in for the track's opener Friday.

Since the meet ended last winter, Harrah's Entertainment has purchased majority interest in the track, installed 905 slot machines, and made millions of dollars of renovations to both the grandstand and backstretch at the 30-year-old track.

"It's really impressive," said Helen Clemmons, a patron from Texas in town to celebrate her 57th wedding anniversary with her husband, Jack.