The $3.53 million bet on the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf card at Sam Houston on Feb. 15 was the third-highest live handle at the track since it opened in 1994. The track's largest handle was in December, when a little more than $5 million was bet on the inaugural Great State Challenge.

That series of races helped boost business on the Connally card, according to Bob Bork, president of Sam Houston.

"It was part of the carryover from the Great State Challenge," said Bork. "With the exposure we received, people are very familiar with Sam Houston Race Park."

Lone Star Park plans to distribute about $240,000 to $245,000 a day in purses, with maiden special weight races worth $27,000.

Lone Star is constructing three new barns on the backstretch, which will open for both stabling and training on March 17.

Stall applications are due Wednesday.

* The Lone Star Park Charitable Foundation distributed $60,000 to 17 different charities in Grand Prairie last Thursday. This year, funds will be raised during three major events, including the NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship on June 20.

The redraw for the twice-postponed John B. Campbell Handicap had no effect on either probable favorite P Day or one of his chief challengers, Pickupspeed. But it did have a major impact on the chances of Hay Geoutofmyway and Full Brush.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Though Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap lost its marquee horse when Lido Palace dropped out last week because of illness, it has become a much more intriguing betting race. While Harlan's Holiday, last year's Florida Derby winner, is a deserving Donn favorite, there are ample reasons to take a shot against him in Gulfstream Park's Grade 1, nine-furlong race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A field of 11 is set for Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap, although two prospective entrants were conspicuous by their absence when the race was drawn earlier this week.

The connections of Best of the Rest, winner of the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic, and his Calder-based rival The Judge Sez Who both passed on this Grade 1 opportunity. One wasn't entered by design, the other out of necessity.

Last weekend's snowstorms that forced the postponement of the two biggest stakes of the winter meet at Laurel Park are long gone. But Mother Nature could act like a gremlin again for Saturday's three-stakes program, highlighted by the rescheduled $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap.

Although the temperature is supposed to be in the 50's, the forecast also calls for the likelihood of rain, which means the eight fillies and mares in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Fritchie may have to deal with mud.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Spring Meadow did not start in the Grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap Jan. 25 because trainer Bob Hess Jr. did not want her in a tough field that included Affluent and Sightseek.

Instead, he pointed Spring Meadow to Saturday's $125,000 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita, a race that has drawn a strong field of fillies and mares.

Run at six furlongs, the Grade 3 Las Flores includes three stakes winners - September Secret, Secret Liaison, and Spring Meadow; stakes-placed Brisquette, Shameful, and Wild Tickle; and allowance race winner Mon Ange.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Wegota Slewzy is the one to beat when she takes on five other fillies and mares in Saturday's feature at Portland Meadows, an allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Wegota Slewzy, a homebred daughter of Tip On Slew and stakes winner Wegota Ghost, will be shooting for her third straight score. She won by a length at six furlongs in a Jan. 4 allowance race, then repeated by six lengths in her most recent try, a Jan. 20 allowance, going six furlongs in a rapid 1:11.43.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Crafty Shaw can give Oaklawn Park president Charles Cella his first stakes win at this track if he successfully defends his title in the Grade 3, $100,000 Essex Handicap on Saturday.

The 1 1/16-mile race is one of two local preps for the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 5, and it drew a field of 10 older horses, including Colorful Tour, who is chasing his fourth straight win; Premeditation, who has won his last two dirt starts; and Ask the Lord, third last out in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Bobby Frankel swept the first two positions in Thursday's $81,900 San Marino Handicap with Requete and Sumitas.

The victory was the first stakes win in the five-race career of Requete. Sent off as the favorite in the restricted San Marino, Requete closed from fifth on the backstretch to reach contention on the final turn. Ridden by Jose Valvidia Jr., Requete ($6.20) rallied four wide in the stretch and was driven to the finish to reach the front.

The 4-year-old Requete ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:00.92.