STOCKTON, Calif. - Jockey Ramon Guce is making his debut on the fair circuit, but he's anything but a rookie.

The 34-year-old rider was the 1999 jockey of the year in his native Philippine Islands and has twice been the leading Thoroughbred rider at Los Alamitos since arriving in the United States in 2000.

"My godfather invited me to ride here," he said of his move to this country.

"In the Philippines, we have a family of jockeys. My father and two brothers are jockeys. I have four or five uncles who ride. I grew up with a barn filled with horses."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Less than three weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad would be represented in this year's Queen's Plate.

But that situation changed suddenly when Shoal Water, making his first start in six months, led throughout a first-level allowance race at 1 1/16 miles here May 30.

"Even before his last race, we weren't pointing for the Plate," Frostad said. "But it's a $1 million race, and he's tied for the third-best last-out Beyer."

AUBURN, Wash. - If Turban provides trainer Jim Penney with his third Longacres Mile win in the last four years, it won't be like the previous two.

Edneator paid a record $85.20 when he won the Grade 3 Mile in 2000, and Sabertooth surprised with a $37.20 payoff last year. Fans simply couldn't see them coming.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There was no doubt which jockey was the hottest at Hollywood Park over the weekend. There also was no doubt which jockey was at the center of the most controversy.

Patrick Valenzuela stormed to the top of the jockey standings with nine wins - five on Saturday and four on Sunday. The five-win day marked a personal best at Hollywood Park for Valenzuela, 40, who has a four-race lead over Victor Espinoza going into Wednesday's eight-race program.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Azeri, the reigning Horse of the Year, will have as many as six opponents when she attempts to win her 10th consecutive race in Saturday's $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The defending champion of the Vanity, Azeri will carry 127 pounds, two pounds more than her assignment in the Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap on May 24, a race she won by three lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Seemingly over a foot injury that forced her to miss last weekend's Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs, Take Charge Lady was declared fit and ready to go for this Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park.

Take Charge Lady zipped five furlongs in 59.66 seconds Sunday over Belmont's main track, her third strong work since recovering from a bruised left front foot.

"I needed the extra week. I needed the extra work," trainer Ken McPeek said Monday. "The foot is fine; it's pretty much a nonissue."

ELMONT, N.Y. - Buoyed by three consecutive dry days and a forecast that doesn't call for rain again until Wednesday night, the Belmont Park racing office carded four turf races for Wednesday's nine-race card.

All look to be good betting races, especially the featured second-level allowance race for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 10 furlongs on the inner turf course. A field of nine was entered.

Distance is a question mark for virtually all the fillies except for Cozie Advantage and Sunstone. But, both of those mares have other issues.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Murray Johnson said a few days before the Stephen Foster that he was excited about having Pat Day ride for him for the first time.

That degree of excitement was nothing compared to the overwhelming feeling of joy that Johnson experienced Saturday after Day deftly guided the trainer's stable star, Perfect Drift, to a narrow victory over heavily favored Mineshaft in a dramatic 22nd running of the Grade 1 Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Although a handful of Keeneland stakes will have new names this fall, the 19-race, $4.5 million stakes schedule is little changed and retains all the elements that make the meet an annual highlight of the Kentucky season.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - King Robyn needs a victory in a $62,000 allowance race on turf at Hollywood Park on Wednesday to restore his reputation as a promising 3-year-old sprinter.

After scoring impressive wins in the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita in March and the Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park in April, King Robyn finished a dull fifth in the Grade 2 Laz Barrera Memorial Stakes over seven furlongs May 26, fading through the stretch to finish five lengths behind Blazonry.