HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In 20 races Balto Star has gone through more highs and lows than most racehorses do in much longer careers.

There were spectacular wins in the Spiral Stakes and Arkansas Derby, followed by drubbings in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. There were flashy victories on the turf at Saratoga each of the last two summers, but they were sandwiched around flops in the Aqueduct Handicap and Breeders' Cup Mile.

NEW ORLEANS - The one Fair Grounds horseman eager to take on the brilliant 3-year-old filly Lady Tak in the Thelma Stakes is the same one that trains her.

Five fillies were entered against Lady Tak in Saturday's $75,000 Thelma, and Valid Pulpit and Souris - like Lady Tak herself - are trained by Steve Asmussen. The standout of the Asmussen trio is obvious, and if Lady Tak continues to progress after smoking two Churchill Downs fields this past fall nobody will touch her in the Thelma.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nicole's Pursuit risks a two-race winning streak in Saturday's $100,000 Pro or Con Handicap at Santa Anita, but the Pro or Con is not the big race that trainer Craig Lewis considers the focus of her January campaign.

Nicole's Pursuit is being pointed to the $350,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25, and the Pro or Con Handicap over a mile on turf is a lucrative prep.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Gary Baze, the most accomplished rider in Northwest racing, will return to the saddle at Portland Meadows on Saturday when he will compete in three races on the 11-race card.

Baze will ride Questionable Road for trainer Jim Fergason in the $10,000 OTBA Stallion Stakes, which will go as the second race; Maria Kay for trainer Gene Davis in the seventh race; and Shy Boots for trainer Jonathon Nance in the nightcap. It will be Baze's first action since fracturing an ankle in a spill at Emerald Downs June 21.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Day Trader, who is at his best when racing clear on an early lead, could find the pace scenario to his advantage when he takes on five rivals in Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Also on the 12-race program is the Grade 2 Appleton Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Saturday's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap lost its defending champion and marquee attraction when Hook and Ladder was forced to pass the race because of a throat ailment.

NEW ORLEANS - His trainer said all Connected needed was a little racing luck. He finally got it Thursday in the $75,000 Louisiana Handicap.

Hemmed inside at the back of a bunched field turning for home, Connected found room at the furlong pole and rallied strongly under Larry Melancon to post a 2 1/4-length win.

"It was a question of if he could get out," said David Carroll, who trains Connected. "This horse deserved to win one."

During its fall-winter meet, which ended Jan. 1, Hawthorne Race Course posted strong gains in handle that were tied directly to interstate simulcasting on the track's races, which averaged a healthy 9.61 starters.

NEW ORLEANS - Of the 18 horses nominated to Sunday's Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap, as many as 11 or 12 are expected to start, but Mystery Giver is one of the few who will pass Fair Grounds' first turf stakes for older horses.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Longtime horseplayers who remembered the name Michael Brice have probably done quite well for themselves the last several months. Those who haven't recognized the name are quickly becoming acquainted with the longshot players' new best friend.