ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Gene Cilio liked - make that loved - Book the Devil a month ago in the $98,000 Violet Stakes at Hawthorne. And then the race began.

Book the Devil, on the lead in the first two races of her career, stumbled out of the gate, spotting the rest of the field close to 10 lengths. And that was that.

"Your heart drops when you see that," said Cilio, who trains Book the Devil for Crowns Way Farms and Steve Holland. "It wasn't the way it was supposed to be. She's usually a good gate horse."

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Mr Patsy Kelly, who will face nine others in a six-furlong allowance Sunday at Lone Star Park, has something in common with Ski Bum, who won the Thursday night feature here. In his last start, Mr Patsy Kelly was second to Where's the Ring, the same horse Ski Bum finished second to one start before he won a $50,000 optional claimer Thursday.

ALBANY, Calif. - Sunday's $60,000-added Saratoga Handicap at Bay Meadows was canceled due to a lack of interest but will be rescheduled for next week.

Only nine horses were nominated for the six-furlong race that would have served as a prep for the Grade 3, $150,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint on June 7. Only four horses were entered in the race, and racing secretary Greg Brent decided to bring the race back May 18.

"That would still give horsemen 20 days before the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint," Brent said.

AUBURN, Wash. - Youcan'ttakeme comes into Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap at Emerald Downs with impressive credentials, including three wins from seven starts for more than $75,000 in earnings, plus the honor of being named last year's top Washington-bred 2-year-old filly.

There is something missing from her resume, however. Youcan'ttakeme, a homebred daughter of He's Tops who races for Herman Sarkowsky, has yet to win a stakes race.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Soon after Secondary School won a $50,000 optional race April 27, trainer David Forster said that he was going to give his undefeated 4-year-old filly a few weeks off before running her again. After all, it was her first start since May 4, 2002, and she had to run her eyeballs out to catch a game Haunting You at the wire. So it was surprising to see Secondary School's name show up when entries were drawn for the Strawberry Morn stakes this Sunday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Five fillies and mares entered Sunday's $150,000 Genuine Risk Handicap at Belmont Park, and four of the runners are quick from the starting gate, which could set things up nicely for Shine Again.

Shine Again ran a courageous race last year in the Grade 2 Genuine Risk. She took aim in deep stretch on the tenacious pacesetter, Xtra Heat, but couldn't catch her and was beaten by a length.

The likely favorite in the six-furlong Genuine Risk is the fleet-footed Carson Hollow, the 122-pound highweight.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Margin of victory is relative to the competition, which is why trainer Cliff Sise will not be oversold on the six-length maiden win by Astra's Sister. "It was a pretty bad group she was in against," Sise said.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey Richard Dos Ramos and his agent, Lorne Spearman, had a difficult decision to make regarding which contender to ride in Sunday's Grade 3, $172,950 George C. Hendrie Handicap at Woodbine.

Dos Ramos, the regular rider of Ginger Gold and Mysterious Affair, ultimately chose the versatile Ginger Gold because she has the potential to earn more this year than confirmed sprinter Mysterious Affair, according to Spearman.

CALGARY, Alberta - Raylene and Vying Rose, owned by Calmar Stables and Ranch, run coupled in the wagering and pose a formidable challenge to their four rivals in Sunday's 30th running of the $40,000 Mount Royal.

The duo last competed together in the Freedom of the City Oct. 12 at Northlands Park, with Vying Rose setting the early fractions and Raylene closing with a rush to win and clinch her divisional championship.

Raylene, with leading rider Dave Wilson up, drew post 3 for her seasonal debut in Sunday's six-furlong handicap for 3-year-old fillies.

VANCOUVER, B. C. - Elana d'Amour, horse of the year in British Columbia last year, makes her 2003 debut in the $40,000 Strawberry Morn Stakes at Hastings on Sunday.

She will face seven other older fillies and mares in the 6 1/2-furlong race, including sprint stakes winner Lilsisterlightning and Secondary School, who is undefeated after three starts.