East Boston, Mass. - Jill's Layup makes her 2003 debut in Saturday's $35,000 Mystery Jet Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies at six furlongs.

Jill's Layup was among the top three juvenile fillies in New England last year. She is 4 for 5 coming into this race with wins in both the statebred and open championship races for 2-year-old fillies last fall.

Owned by Lois Stone and trained by her husband, Edward Stone, Jill's Layup missed some time this winter with foot problems and has always required soft treatment from her 83-year-old trainer.

PHOENIX - In Saturday's $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup trainer Eric Kruljac is going to have trouble keeping a poker face considering the strong hand he holds.

Kruljac sends out the two horses to beat in the 48th running of the six-furlong Gold Cup at Turf Paradise. They are the sharp and consistent Grimm, who carries 119 pounds, and R. Baggio, a Southern California campaigner who carries 118. They are coupled in the wagering in the nine-horse field for the Gold Cup, one of three stakes on the card.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - There is a pick six carryover of $205,487 at Oaklawn Park on Thursday.

The pick six has not been hit for the past four race days, and the carryover is the largest of the meet.

The bet runs from races 3 through 8.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Thursday's live racing program at Aqueduct was canceled because of snow that began falling around 9 a.m. The track remained open for simulcasting.

Since Jan. 1, Aqueduct has canceled three full cards and two partial cards because of bad weather. One of those full cards was made up two days later, a day that Aqueduct was originally scheduled to be dark.

NEW ORLEANS - San Diego Sue was rained out of a turf race here Feb. 17, and the concerns trainer Al Stall had going into that start pertain to Friday, when San Diego Sue is scheduled to run again.

San Diego Sue was one of 13 entered for Friday's ninth race, a first-level allowance at about 7 1/2 furlongs on grass. Ten of the 13 horses entered will be permitted to run if the race remains on turf.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Brass Halo will try two turns for the first time in Friday's featured sixth race at Portland Meadows. The one-mile race for $10,000 claimers has drawn an accomplished field of seven.

NEW ORLEANS - Bobby Frankel apparently likes Bourbon Street more than cable cars. After saying on Tuesday that he would "probably go up north" with Peace Rules for Saturday's El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, Frankel on Wednesday reversed course and decided to send Peace Rules to Sunday's $750,000 Louisiana Derby, making an outstanding race that much better.

ALBANY, Calif. - A field of eight now appears likely for Saturday's $200,000 Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

On Wednesday, trainer Bobby Frankel decided to send Peace Rules to Fair Grounds to run in the Louisiana Derby and trainer Mike Machowsky opted not to run Southern Image. Trainer Wally Dollase will enter Ten Most Wanted, who came out of a Saturday work with a minor problem that has now been remedied.

Also scheduled to run are Ministers Wild Cat, Crackup, Mr. Technique, Ocean Terrace, Onebadshark, Ozzie Cat, and Winning Stripes.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Lured by the prospect of earning a placing in a major stakes race, the connections of three fillies have decided to tackle favorites Composure and Elloluv in Saturday's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks.

The prospective field for the Grade 1 Oaks, a leading prep to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs May 2, is at a whopping five 3-year-old fillies.

Composure and Elloluv are both Grade 1 winners in the last three months. The trainers of Go for Glamour, Harbor Blues, and Long Term Wish are hoping to run third to enhance the value of their young fillies.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Chris McCarron, the Hall of Fame jockey who retired last June, has been appointed general manager of Santa Anita, the track parent's company, Magna Entertainment, announced Wednesday.

McCarron will take his position on March 31. He will assume a title currently held by Jack Liebau, who is also Santa Anita's president. Liebau also serves as president of Magna's two other California tracks - Bay Meadows in San Mateo and Golden Gate Fields in Albany.

McCarron will report to Liebau, the company stated. Liebau was not available for comment.