GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Lone Star Park plans to lower the takeout on pick four wagers from 25 percent to 15 for the Memorial Day card, which will feature seven stakes led by the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.

The special one-day takeout rate is subject to final approval from the Texas Racing Commission.

The first pick four will begin with the third race, and continue with the fourth, which will be the $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes; the fifth, which is the $100,000 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint; and the sixth, which will be the $50,000 Carter McGregor.

AUBURN, Wash. - The initial leg of the Stanislaw Ashbaugh Starter Series headlines Thursday's eight-race program at Emerald Downs. The $7,000 race has drawn a field of 10 older $3,200 starter allowance runners to vie at 6 1/2 furlongs.

The series is designed to reward lower-level claimers, the backbone of most weekday cards at Emerald, and Super Writer will make a fitting favorite. The 8-year-old Super Writer, who races for owners Allen Floyd and Jack Guier, has won 14 of 36 career starts, including 11 of 23 outings at Emerald.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The odds on Medecis will be higher than stablemate Redattore's on Monday in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park, but trainer Richard Mandella will not be surprised if Medecis scores the upset. After all, Medecis established his credentials in France last year by winning a Group 3 stakes and placing in two Group 1's. "He has a right to be good," Mandella said. "He's a good horse and particularly good at a mile."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The blue silks have been replaced by maroon, and the colt's owner is now listed as Darley Stud Management, rather than Godolphin Racing Inc. But unless Savonarola is better than last year, it won't make any difference who owns him when he runs in a good allowance race Thursday at Hollywood Park.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Dean Pederson gets a quick start on what could be a big day for him in Thursday's first race at Bay Meadows.

Pederson, who is winning at a 30 percent clip this year, sends out three horses, each of whom could be a strong contender, on the day's eight-race card.

His best chance, though, may come in the first race, which is also the day's feature event, a $62,500 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf. Only five are in the race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bob Baffert stuck around Churchill Downs long enough Tuesday morning to watch Congaree put in a final work before the Met Mile at Belmont this weekend, but then he was off to the airport to get back to his large stable in California.

Kentucky won't be long forgotten, however, since Baffert will be checking on Churchill Downs simulcasts Thursday afternoon when he is represented by the likely favorite, Surf N Sand, in the ninth and featured race.

CHICAGO - There are seven horses in the best race Thursday at Arlington, but the most likely winner is jockey agent Dennis Cooper.

Cooper's main client, Rene Douglas, is fully expected to win his third straight Arlington riding title, and at this point finding mounts for him is easy. Douglas rides Smart Juliet, the most likely winner of Thursday's sixth race, who is a neck away from already having won a first-level allowance race like this one.

AUBURN, Wash. - Lightly raced Turban is playing catch-up no more.

In just his fifth career start and his second as a 4-year-old, Turban caught stablemate Sabertooth at the furlong marker in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Fox Sports Net Handicap at Emerald Downs and powered right on by, winning by 3 1/2 lengths under Gallyn Mitchell in 1:14, just a fifth of a second off the track record. Sabertooth held second by a half-length over the fast-finishing Alfurune, a 14-1 longshot in the field of seven.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The jeers turned to cheers for Jose Santos on Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park.

Less than 24 hours after guiding Funny Cide to a 9 3/4-length victory in the Preakness, Santos walked into the paddock for Sunday's fourth race at Belmont and was greeted with a loud ovation from the Belmont faithful. Some shouted "Triple Crown,'' others "Bring it on home,'' and others still "One more time'' as Santos smiled and politely waved to the fans while astride longshot Monkey Junior.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - El Dorado Shooter ($3.20) tuned up for the June 7 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint with an easy six-length victory in the $73,850 Saratoga Handicap at Bay Meadows Sunday.

El Dorado Shooter forged to the lead with an opening quarter-mile run in 21.63 seconds. He extended his margin through a half-mile in 43.21 and was still being encouraged until late in the six-furlong race by winning rider Russell Baze.