AUBURN, Wash. - Savannah Thumper obviously had an edge when he won his debut against $8,000 maidens on May 24. Just how big that edge was figures to become clear on Thursday, when he steps up to the $20,000 level to face half a dozen other 3-year-olds in the 6 1/2-furlong feature at Emerald Downs.

Ryan Morris wound up the San Joaquin County Fair meet in style by winning three races on Sunday. As a result, Morris broke a tie with Ken Tohill to finish as the meet's leading rider.

Morris, who had only four mounts, won three straight races, including a mule race with Black Ruby, the queen of the northern California fair circuit.

CHICAGO - In April, trainer Gene Cilio's stable was unraveling. Now it's becoming unstoppable.

With four wins this weekend at Arlington, two in statebred stakes races, Cilio drew within one of Wayne Catalano, 16-15, in the local trainer standings. The horses Cilio trains have earned more than $463,000 here, almost double the next-highest total, and Saturday's stakes winners, Out of My Way and Act of War, may head into unrestricted races.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Although Azeri will not start in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 13, her trainer, Laura de Seroux, has not entirely ruled out a race against male horses later this summer.

Azeri, the reigning Horse of the Year, stretched her winning streak to 10 with a two-length score in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday. She has not lost since finishing second to Summer Colony in her stakes debut in the La Canada at Santa Anita in February 2002, a streak achieved entirely against fillies and mares.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The sun shone brilliantly Monday morning and the mercury soared into the mid-80's, signaling that maybe, just maybe, summer has indeed arrived. The forecast calls for those same sunny skies and even hotter temperatures Wednesday, meaning that probably - well, hopefully - turf racing will return to Belmont Park.

Four grass races were carded for Wednesday, and if they are all run it would equal the number of turf races that have been run thus far this month at Belmont.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For the second time at the Churchill Downs spring meet, the pick six pool has grown sufficiently large so as to attract the keen interest of horseplayers throughout North America.

By going un-hit Sunday for the sixth straight day, the wager has a carryover into the Wednesday card of $329,989, meaning the pool easily could surpass $1 million after all bets are in. The Wednesday carryover is seventh-largest in track history.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Tracy's Tonka Toy will meet older Ontario-sired opposition in his first turf attempt, a one-mile allowance worth $69,900 that will go as Wednesday's third race at Woodbine.

Tracy's Tonka Toy was eligible for Sunday's Queen's Plate but bypassed that race in favor of this much easier spot. He finished far back in each of his three 2-year-old outings but has evolved into a productive route specialist this season under the guidance of trainer Gord Colbourne.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The pick six at Hollywood Park on Wednesday features a carryover of $174,449 and a few races that may puzzle bettors.

Ask Not figures to be a strong favorite to win her fourth consecutive race in the fifth race, but there are three sprints for maiden claimers and an allowance race on turf that will force bettors to make tough decisions.

The pick six starts with the third race.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Sixthirtyjoe, an unlikely winner of horse of the year honors on the Alberta circuit last year, entered his current campaign as one of the leading lights in the province.

His performance in Calgary this spring, however, was less than awe-inspiring.

With just two second-place finishes and only $18,256 earned in his first four starts as a 5-year-old, Sixthirtyjoe returned to Edmonton last Saturday and won the $40,000 Journal Handicap at a distance of 6 1/2 furlongs.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After Sightseek on Saturday gave Bobby Frankel his fifth graded stakes victory in the fillies and mares division and 29th overall this year, the Hall of Fame trainer turned his attention to his older males on Monday, sending out two of his big guns and one reclamation project for workouts at surprisingly sunny Belmont Park.