AUBURN, Wash. - Melcapwalker and Bucko Wins, who staged a seesaw stretch duel here on Memorial Day, will be rematched in Thursday's one-mile feature at Emerald Downs for older $16,000 claimers.

Melcapwalker and Bucko Wins were racing a mile at the $12,500 level when they last met. Bucko Wins came from sixth to head the front-running Melcapwalker at the furlong marker and lengthened his lead to three-quarters of a length with a sixteenth to run, but Melcapwalker dug back in under rider Scott Saito and earned a neck decision in 1:36.40.

AUBURN, Wash. - It is impossible to fault Youcan'ttakeme's effort in Sunday's inaugural running of the Son of Briartic Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

But how much credit she deserves is another question.

On one hand, Youcan'ttakeme merely did what a 1-5 shot without any serious pace opposition is supposed to do. She cruised to the lead, dictated the fractions, and drew away from her three rivals without much urging from jockey Gary Baze, who won his fourth stakes race from five tries at the meet.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Macdashi, a maiden trained by Franz Crean, has become the latest filly to be pointed to Sunday's $500,000 Labatt Woodbine Oaks.

Macdashi's candidacy brings the probable field to 10 for the 48th running of the Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Owned by the Lucky Chance Stable of Willin Tin, Macdashi raced only once at 2, finishing second in a five-furlong maiden special here Oct. 20.

"She'd showed enough promise that we had the Oaks in mind," said Crean, "so we sent her to Florida for the winter.

CHICAGO - It's hard to complain when a horse you claimed for $10,000 is making money hand over fist, and might even be good enough to win some sort of stakes race. On the other hand, how much trouble can one racehorse get into?

North of Six has held sharp form since February, but in three second-level turf allowance races he's gotten acquainted with a mischievous trio of pals - Checked, Stopped, and Steadied. Last time out, it was Stumbled.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - For the first time in its seven-year history, Lone Star Park is cutting overnight purses, with the approximately 9 percent reduction to begin Thursday night. The move reduces average daily purses at the meet to $220,000 from $240,000.

The adjustment is the result of slower than expected business. Ontrack, average daily handle on Lone Star's live races is down 8 percent to $583,000 through Sunday, while average daily attendance is off 6 percent to approximately 8,300.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Owner Michael Gill suggested Jeremy Rose shift his tack to Monmouth Park this summer, and the move has already paid off handsomely for the 24-year-old jockey.

"I get to ride first call for his horses and he's got a lot of horses that are always competitive," Rose said.

The numbers bear that out. Through seven days of racing here, Rose had eight wins, only four behind leading rider Joe Bravo. Every win has come on a horse owned by Gill.

Mark Shuman, the trainer of seven of Rose's winners, likes the concept of using a stable rider.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stakes winner Cavalier Billie will launch her 2003 campaign in Thursday's Woodbine feature, a second-level allowance for fillies and mares on the turf.

Cavalier Billie was an ordinary runner on the main track before she was sent out on the grass in a six-furlong maiden special last June. She graduated with authority at 18-1 that day, yet was let go at 17-1 three weeks later in the Ontario Damsel Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Awesome Humor isn't coming, but the field for Friday's Grade 1 Acorn is quite impressive nonetheless.

A field of seven was expected to be entered Tuesday for Friday's $250,000 Acorn, the highlight of a 10-race card, which will be televised live on ESPN (4:30-6 p.m. eastern). The field for the one-mile Acorn will include Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, defending 2-year-old champion Storm Flag Flying, graded stakes winners Final Round, House Party, Randaroo, and Lady Tak, plus restricted stakes winner Kitty Knight.

CALGARY, Alberta - A conditioned optional claimer, the featured eighth race Wednesday at Stampede Park drew six 3-year-olds.

A strong effort in the one-mile race could earn a contestant a spot in the Grade 3, $100,000 Alberta Derby here June 14.

Fancy Bru, fourth to Alberta Derby favorite Taiaslew in the Hoofprint on My Heart here May 25, could earn a rematch with a win Wednesday.

A half-brother to 2001 Alberta Derby winner Fancy As, Fancy Bru was prominent early in the one-mile Hoofprint but faded to fourth, beaten 11 lengths.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Starrer, one of the nation's top female runners, might be retired in coming weeks.

A persistent ankle problem that has prevented Starrer from starting during the Hollywood Park meeting will be evaluated later this month, owner George Krikorian said. At that point, a decision will be made whether Starrer will resume exercise or be retired. Starrer has not started since she won her third consecutive stakes in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita in March.