NEW ORLEANS - Lone Star Sky was given a target in a major five-furlong work Tuesday at Fair Grounds, and later trainer Tom Amoss said he was targeting the Illinois Derby as Lone Star Sky's next start.

Second in the Risen Star Stakes and fourth in the Louisiana Derby, Lone Star Sky was timed in just over 58 seconds for his five-furlong breeze, a very fast work by this track's standards.

"He worked well, and he worked rapid," said Amoss, who trains Lone Star Sky for owner Walter "Buddy" New. "We gave him a target, something to run at this time."

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - This weekend will be the richest in Sunland Park history, with the $250,000-added WinStar Sunland Park Oaks on Saturday and the $500,000-guaranteed Winstar Derby on Sunday.

With a planeload of shippers scheduled to arrive Friday morning, both races will have a distinctive Southern California feel; trainers Bob Baffert, Ted West, Doug O'Neill, A.C. Avila, and Nick Canani are all sending at least one horse to Sunland. Along with the big money and top trainers come such jockeys as Gary Stevens, Patrick Valenzuela, Pat Day, and Corey Lanerie.

ALBANY, Calif. - The way speed has been favored at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Dan Markle knows he is asking a lot of late-running Rollette in Thursday's feature race.

But Markle also knows Rollette is the most accomplished horse in the field of six older fillies and mares entered in the $50,000 optional claimer at six furlongs.

Rollette hasn't won since beating stablemate Whatdidshesay in a minor stakes at Emerald Downs in Seattle 11 months ago. Whatdidshesay is also entered and will make her first start in seven months.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Van Rouge was just starting to develop into a stakes-class runner last spring when he was forced to the sidelines. With a recent prep, he should begin to fulfill his promise when he heads a field of middle-distance grass runners in Thursday's featured seventh race at Santa Anita.

The one-mile race drew a field of 10. Van Rouge is one of nine horses eligible for the nonwinners-of-two conditions; comebacking Little Ghazi is the only horse entered for the $80,000 claiming price.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - This Guns for Hire is among the nominees but will not participate in Saturday's Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap. Instead, he will likely have his hands full winning a $40,000, second-level allowance race at nine furlongs that serves as the main event on Thursday's nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

Affluent ran one of the best races of her career in last year's Apple Blossom Handicap. Trouble was, she ran into Azeri, who was in the midst of her Horse of the Year winning streak, and had to settle for second.

Affluent is heading back to Oaklawn Park for this year's Apple Blossom on April 5, and again will face Azeri, who this time will be coming off a layoff, making her first start since the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Only two jockeys have ridden Kona Gold in a remarkable career that has included an Eclipse Award as sprint champion, 11 stakes wins, and earnings of more than $2.2 million.

On Saturday, the small club is expected add a member if Kona Gold starts in the $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Secret Liaison, returning from a seven-month break, had a tough reintroduction to racing when she finished sixth in the Las Flores Handicap on Feb. 22.

She was wide for much of the six-furlong race and contributed to a fast-paced half-mile in 43.81 seconds. It was understandable that she faded from contention late and lost by 7 1/4 lengths.

Secret Liaison, a 5-year-old, returns in Wednesday's $75,000 Pine Tree Lane Stakes at Santa Anita. Her trainer Ted H. West thinks she will be better after the recent start.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - My Meow might have to change tactics Wednesday in order to win her third race at the Oaklawn Park meet. A front-running winner twice this meet, she appears to have a good deal of early speed to contend with in the featured ninth, a two-other-than allowance that has drawn a field of eight fillies and mares.

The purse for the six-furlong race is $32,000.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For almost two years, Flying Birdie was the unquestioned leader of her division in south Florida in five-furlong races on turf or dirt. Then Petrina Above tried turf for the first time last summer at Calder.

Since that time Petrina Above and Flying Birdie have met five times, and Petrina Above holds a 4-1 edge in head-to-head battles. The two will square off again Wednesday in a $48,000 allowance race carded for five furlongs on Gulfstream Park's turf course.