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.

AUBURN, Wash. - Bisbee's Prospect will attempt to reprise her superlative performance in the opening-day U.S. Bank Stakes on Sunday when she takes on six other 3-year-old fillies in the $40,000 Federal Way Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Bisbee's Prospect, a homebred daughter of Smart Strike who races for Jerre Paxton's Northwest Farms, blew away eight rivals in the six-furlong U.S. Bank Stakes, winning off by nearly five lengths in a sparkling 1:08.20. Trainer Bob McMeans said that Bisbee's Prospect has continued to thrive and said he has only one concern.

MIAMI - If all had gone according to plan, trainer Kathleen O'Connell would have been in Louisville last week, saddling Ivanavinalot in the Kentucky Oaks. Instead, O'Connell is heading to Baltimore where she will send out her star 3-year-old filly in Friday's Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico.

O'Connell's itinerary changed within a matter of seconds on April 5 - the time it took for Ivanavinalot to nearly get knocked around leaving the starting gate for Keeneland's Grade 1 Ashland Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner-trainer Audre Cappuccitti has been enduring a rather frustrating start to the Woodbine season, particularly with respect to her stable stars El Prado Essence, Dream Launcher, and American in Paris.

Only El Prado Essence has seen action this year, and not as often as Cappuccitti would have liked.

But her one appearance certainly was productive, as El Prado Essence captured the 6 1/2-furlong prep for the George C. Hendrie Handicap on April 27. The 6-year-old mare will be looking to defend her Hendrie title at the same distance here Sunday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Belmont Park's turf course opened for workouts for the first time this year on Friday. Among the six horses on the work tab was graded stakes winner Blazing Fury.

In his first work of 2003, Blazing Fury covered three furlongs in 37.93 seconds over a course that was listed as good. The dogs, the cones that protect the inside of the turf, were out about half the width of the course.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - An illness put The Tin Man on the shelf in late winter following his impressive win in the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita. At the time, he was considered one of the top turf marathon horses in California, if not the best.

To retain that status, The Tin Man will need another outstanding performance in Saturday's $400,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - While Dynever may not be as well known as some of the 3-year-olds who competed in last week's Kentucky Derby, he is on the brink of getting the chance to meet many of his more famous peers.

Dynever figures to be heavily favored when he attempts to use Saturday's Grade 3, $500,000 Lone Star Derby as a springboard to next month's Belmont Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile Lone Star Derby is the richest stakes of the Lone Star meet.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Is Shake You Down a wet-track freak or is he really developing into one of the top sprinters in the country?

That question may be answered Saturday when Shake You Down shoots for his first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park. The Bold Ruler, which drew a seven-horse field, shares billing with the Grade 2, $200,000 Nassau County Breeders' Cup for 3-year-old fillies.

Also Saturday, Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide will make an appearance in the paddock.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The tattered reputations of several stakes winners from recent seasons can be restored with a win in Saturday's $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park.

At various points of their careers, Fleetstreet Dancer, Lethal Instrument, Palmeiro, Piensa Sonando, Sunday Break, Total Impact, and Wooden Phone appeared on the verge of breaking into Grade 1 company.

All faltered, some worse than others. Injuries have limited Wooden Phone to three starts in 18 months. Piensa Sonando and Sunday Break have shown erratic form in recent starts.