HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Jack Wolf watched President Bush's speech to the nation along with many other Americans on Monday night. The talk of a possible war in the Middle East hit a little closer to home in the Wolf household, though. Wolf and his wife, Laurie, are planning to be in Dubai next week to watch their Harlan's Holiday compete in the $6 million Dubai World Cup.

A potentially massive problem that could have jeopardized the running of the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes on Saturday at Turfway Park apparently has been resolved after officials acted swiftly Tuesday to contain an equine virus diagnosed in three horses stabled at the Florence, Ky., track.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Forty Nine Deeds's second-place finish to Colorful Tour on opening weekend at Oaklawn Park is starting to look like a pretty nice credential. The two horses met Feb. 1, and since then, Colorful Tour has gone on two win two major stakes at the meet and is headed next to the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 5.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Buddy Gil got the money, but Atswhatimtalknbout is getting all the attention. The 3-year-olds finished a nose apart in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile San Felipe last Sunday, and the strong finish and super gallop out by runner-up Atswhatimtalknbout has made him the clear favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 5.

ARCADIA, Calif. - European imports Tangle and Katdogawn will feel right at home in the first of three turf races Thursday at Santa Anita, but race 3 figures to be won by a California-bred dirt sprinter. Just Too Too, whose front-running style is favored by the outermost placement of the temporary rails (30 feet), could be long gone, even though he is trying two turns and grass for the first time.

ALBANY, Calif. - For the first time in more than a year, Golden Gate Fields racing secretary Greg Brent was forced to hold up entries and bring them back a second day.

His perseverance paid off after suspending entries on Sunday when no race had more than five entrants. The Thursday co-feature, a one-mile $40,000 starter allowance race on the turf, has nine entrants and looks to be a wide-open race.

NEW ORLEANS - Trainer Ronny Werner on Tuesday said he may give Badge of Silver an extra week until his next start and run him in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12 instead of the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne on April 5.

Both races are at 1 1/8 miles and would serve as Badge of Silver's final prep for the May 3 Kentucky Derby. The Illinois Derby had been considered the next stop for Badge of Silver, but Werner said the colt may benefit from an extra week in light of recent throat surgery.

NEW ORLEANS - Taking a stand against No Jacket Required in Fair Grounds's featured race Thursday may require a leap of faith. There are two opponents who may be better, but between them they have just one start in the last 18 months.

No Jacket Required probably will be favored in the ninth race, which is for second-level allowance horses or $40,000 claimers at about 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Though he steps up in class after a first-level allowance win in his last start, No Jacket Required presents seven rivals with a formidable target.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - New York Hero, scratched from Sunday's $200,000 Gotham at Aqueduct, will run in Saturday's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park.

New York Hero drew post 10 for the Gotham - a major concern given the short run into the first of two turns - and his connections decided they would rather run in the Grade 2 Lane's End, a 1 1/8-mile race.

"We hated the post and we can run for more money in Kentucky," said Jennifer Pedersen, New York Hero's trainer.

Lion Tamer and Champali are the most accomplished 3-year-olds likely to run in Turfway Park's signature race, the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes on Saturday.