HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It took a while but Dynever finally lived up to expectations, surging away from a game Supah Blitz in late stretch for a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $250,000 at Gulfstream Park.

Dynever was bet down to the 4-5 favorite in the Aventura, despite coming into the race having had only two previous starts. A son of Dynaformer, Dynever rated off a contested early pace, rallied four wide into contention around the second turn, was briefly head by Supah Blitz into the stretch, then asserted his superiority to win going away under jockey Edgar Prado.

STICKNEY, Ill. - A diamond in the rough before Saturday, Ten Most Wanted sparkled in the , leaving the rest of the field behind with a powerful stretch run that stamped him as a Kentucky Derby contender.

Racing in mid-pack until the far turn, Ten Most Wanted ($6.60) and jockey Pat Day started their run outside the quarter pole and reached the longshot Fund of Funds in midstretch before drawing away to a four-length win in the Grade 2, $500,000 Illinois Derby.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - With jockeys Joe Judice and Jesus Castanon dueling for leading rider honors, it's easy overlook the fact that Juan Umana has quietly been having one of his best meetings in recent years.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Lone Star Deputy rode a ground-saving trip to victory in the $100,000 for 3-year-olds at Lone Star Park.

Lone Star Deputy ($10.20), the third choice in a field of nine, broke alertly and took a position along the inside. Turning for home, Lone Star Deputy found himself behind a wall of horses with nowhere to go.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Invader's luck has been so bad that even when she wins she loses. A 3-year-old Illinois-bred filly, Invader has raced 10 times and only once has she failed to fire, but still her record reads 1 win, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds. Invader turned in creditable - if losing - performances in open allowance races throughout last summer at Arlington Park, but she finally broke through at just the right time - or so it seemed. Invader gamely won the $109,000 Showtime Deb at Hawthorne last November, only to be disqualified for causing interference late in the race.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The was supposed to be a competitive race, and, indeed, the toteboard reflected as much. Lady Tak was the 6-5 favorite over a pair of 2-1 shots, Yell and Elloluv, in the Grade 1 race Saturday at Keeneland.

But the actual results were far different than the paper race. Elloluv dominated from the start, setting a realistic pace under Robby Albarado before gliding away from Lady Tak for a 3 3/4-length triumph in the 66th running of the $551,750 Ashland.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark - In an effort befitting of her 2002 Horse of the Year title, Azeri won her first start back from a five-month layoff in the

Grade 1, $500,000 Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Azeri dug in after a wide trip to get past Take Charge Lady and win the Apple Blossom Handicap by a head.

The race was Azeri's first since her five-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Oct. 26. She and Paseana are the only horses to win two runnings of the Apple Blossom.

Balmy won the $75,000 Primonetta Stakes at Pimlico Saturday to remain unbeaten in three starts this year.

Under Ramon Dominguez, Balmy stalked early leader New Years Eve Gala to the stretch of the six-furlong race and pulled away to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Darnestown finished second in the field of six fillies and mares, with Hunka Hunka Lori Z third. Vesta, the 4-5 favorite, finished last.

Owned by Fox Hill Farms and trained by John Servis, Balmy covered the six furlongs in 1:10.97 and paid $8.60 to win.

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Devil Time ($6.20) took command entering the stretch and was ridden out to a 7 1/2-length victory over 12 Ohio-bred rivals in Saturday's $40,000 Edward Babst Memorial at Beulah Park.

Vivid News, who had trouble at the start, rallied to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Fax a Freddy in third.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Lindsay Jean ($6.60) found herself farther back than usual in the early running of the $83,625 Miss America Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday, but she was in a familiar spot at the end of the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Moving confidently on the second turn, she took the lead from pacesetting Little Treasure and held off Crazy Ensign, Bush Triumph, and Little Treasure late to score her second straight victory.