NEW ORLEANS - Mineshaft and Learned, both impressive in allowance races, looked like they should be stakes horses. Sunday's Diplomat Way Handicap at Fair Grounds proved they are.

Mineshaft took the lead three furlongs from the finish and barely held off an astounding late rally from Learned to win the $75,000 Diplomat Way by a nose. His win gave two Fair Grounds handicap races to trainer Neil Howard and owners Will Farish, Temple Webber and James Elkins. Rock Slide, Mineshaft's older full brother, won the Tenacious Handicap here in December.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Riddlesdown continued the upset trend that has characterized the Gulfstream Park stakes schedule thus far this season, leading throughout en route to a 1 1-2 length victory over Macaw in Sunday's $100,000 .

Riddlesdown paid $61.60 to win and followed on the heels of the 25-1 Offlee Wild's victory in the Holy Bull Stakes the previous afternoon. Favorites have not won any of the seven stakes races decided here since the meet began on Jan. 3.

ALBANY, Calif. - Halo Cat ($4.80) took advantage of a pace duel between El Dorado Shooter and Our Magistrate and made a strong move at the top of the stretch to capture the $ Montclair Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

Halo Cat defeated El Dorado Shooter by three lengths in the six-furlong race. His winning time of 1:07.62 was just off the track record of 1:07.55 set in the Montclair in 2001.

"We were hoping it would set up that way," winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Valhol recpatured his best form Saturday night when he held off a bid from runner-up Seainsky in the stretch and went on to win the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park by a length and a half. It was another two and a quarter lengths back in third to Ask The Lord.

Valhol($5.80) raced in third early in the mile and an eighth handicap while Tee Cat set fractions of 23.44 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.03 seconds for the half-mile mark. Valhol advanced on the final turn, and drove home, covering the distance over a fast track in 1:49.18.

Scottish Heritage($24) won her third straight race Saturday night when she powered to a one-length win over Rubies N Roses in the $50,000 Creme De La Creme for 3-year-old statebred fillies at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

It was another half-length back in third to Letithappencaptain.

ALBANY, Calif. - Denali Cat ($5) scored her first stakes victory as she outran Heart Ofa Champion down the stretch to win the six-furlong $60,000 added Miss California for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Denali Cat tracked Watch Out World down the backstretch, moved abreast of her on the turn and put her nose in front heading into the stretch. She moved out a bit as Heart Ofa Champion moved up after rallying three wide on the turn. She also drifted out momentarily around the 16th pole before straightening out.

Sunland Park, N. M. - On November 30 trainer Fred Danley brought Tornados Jack off a a two month layoff to win the Red Hedeman Mile and now he's done it again. This time he sent Gulchrunssweet out to win Saturday's $125,000-added Pepsi Cola Handicap after four months on the sidelines.

ARCADIA, Calif. - In the last six months, many bettors have ignored Grammarian in major stakes in California, only to have their fingers burned each time.

Grammarian was a 29-1 winner of the Sunset Handicap last July, a 14-1 runner-up in the Hollywood Turf Cup in November, and a 9-1 winner in the San Gabriel Handicap here Dec. 29.

The same prices will not be available when Grammarian starts from the rail in Monday's $150,000 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.

"I hope he's 9-1 again," said trainer Beau Greely, showing an overwhelming amount of optimism.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Owner Michael Gill has made quite a splash at Gulfstream Park this winter, primarily with the claiming horses he has with trainer Mark Shuman. But, Gill also spent $2.5 million last year on 2-year-olds.

One of those purchases, Philadelphia Jim, looms a heavy favorite in Monday's $75,000 Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes at Aqueduct. A field of five was entered for the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mayakovsky, a multiple stakes winner who won his first start on turf in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Jan. 9, will return in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Trainer Patrick Biancone pre-entered Mayakovsky in the Turf and $1 million Classic on dirt at Gulfstream Park, but has chosen to stay at home and try a field he thinks will be easier.

The Turf and Classic are two of the eight races in the inaugural Sunshine Millions for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita.