OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A strong comeback race followed by a sensational workout has True Direction heading in the right direction as he points for a start in Thursday's $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.

On Nov. 8, coming off a 50-day layoff, True Direction ran second to veteran New York-bred millionaire Say Florida Sandy in a classified allowance race. True Direction earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 107.

On Thursday, True Direction drilled five furlongs in 58.58 seconds over Belmont Park's training track, the fastest of 19 drills at the distance.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey David Clark and trainer Mac Benson, who teamed up to win the 1985 Queen's Plate with La Lorgnette, appear to have a candidate for next year's Plate in Quiet Dare, an impressive winner of Wednesday's $108,000 Sunny's Halo Stakes for 2-year-olds here at Woodbine.

The Sunny's Halo was one of three stakes on Wednesday's card, along with the Display and Bessarabian, that were rescheduled from last weekend when the races were canceled because of poor track conditions.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hastings Entertainment intends to continue racing just two days a week for one more year.

That was the main focus of a five-year business plan presented to the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at an open informational meeting last week.

Garth Essary, vice president of operations, explained how the per-race handle was significantly higher on weekends, and until the horse population increases Hastings management feels it is necessary to stick to the two-day-a-week schedule.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Business figures at the Churchill Downs fall meet are down significantly from last year, leading track officials to call once again for a means to combat the serious competition from nearby riverboat casinos.

Through Sunday, day 19 of the 30-day meet, ontrack attendance and handle were averaging 6,800 and $683,924 per day, respective declines of 17 and 19 percent from corresponding 2001 dates. Meanwhile, handle from all sources is averaging $6,117,775 daily, a decline of 4 percent. Figures were provided by Rick Smith, Churchill's director of mutuels.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Yet another Massachusetts-bred stakes race at Suffolk Downs appears to be at the mercy of an overwhelming favorite, as African Princess heads the $30,000 Massachusetts Oaks on Saturday.

Last week, Jill's Layup was the bridgejumpers' heroine when she won the Amelia Peabody Stakes with over $400,000 backing her in the show pool. African Princess won't be as strongly supported in the Oaks, but she will be a very deserving favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race.

MIAMI - Worldly Victor was only two weeks into his 3-year-old campaign when he became a stakes winner, upsetting Gulfstream Park's Dave Feldman Stakes in a field that included multiple turf stakes winners Lord Juban and August Storm.

Ten months later Worldly Victor will still be seeking his second victory of the year when he starts as the logical choice in Saturday's $40,000 Amerilad Stakes on the turf.

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Waist Gunner John looms the one to beat when he faces six other Ohio-breds in Saturday's $45,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park. The race will be run at 1 1/4 miles.

Waist Gunner John has won five races in 2002, including three restricted stakes for owner-trainer Chuck Kovach. In his last start, the 4-year-old son of Rhodes was never a factor and finished sixth against open allowance rivals at Mountaineer Park on Nov. 2.

Anderson, Ind. - Private Gold goes for his second career stakes win when he heads a field of nine entered in Saturday night's $100,000 Hoosier Juvenile Stakes at six furlongs.

Trained by Patrick Byrne, Private Gold won the Ellis Juvenile on Aug. 14 for his first stakes score. He returned on Sept. 14 in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Cup Juvenile where he was second, beaten six lengths by eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vindication.

ALBANY, Calif. - Five stakes winners are among the 10 2-year-old fillies who will compete in Saturday's $60,000-added Piedmont Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Amber Hills, Hostility, Market Garden, and Viansa Ossidiana will be looking for their second stakes victory in the six-furlong race. Global Finance, winner of the six-furlong Bam's Penny at Bay Meadows in her last start, will be seeking her third stakes win. She also won the Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 11.

PHOENIX - Last year in the Queen of the Green Handicap, Alexine swooped down from Southern California and snatched first prize. It could happen again as Southern California raiders Reine de Romance, Polaire, and Double Cat run in this year's Queen of the Green on Saturday at Turf Paradise. The $50,000 race lured a field of 10 to go a mile on the turf.

There's an added bonus - Julie Krone, the Hall of Fame rider who recently came out of retirement, will ride likely favorite Reine de Romance.