NEW ORLEANS - There are whole philosophies about the cyclical nature of events. They apply to horse racing in general, and to Rock Slide in particular. A regally bred colt with the bearing of a champion, Rock Slide has fallen as many times as he has risen. Now Rock Slide has cycled back to another stakes attempt in Sunday's Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds, where he will try once again to live up to his appearance and breeding.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Yesss, a winner of two stakes in two added-money appearances at last year's abbreviated meeting, will take on the red-hot Cigi and four other challengers in Sunday's one-mile allowance feature at Portland Meadows.

HOUSTON - It's no surprise that Kentucky and Florida will field the two strongest favorites on Saturday's inaugural, $1.65 million Great State Challenge at Sam Houston Race Park: The two states produce the nation's largest foal crops and have the deepest talent pools from which to draw. In Kentucky's corner is Take Charge Lady, who will be the odds-on choice to win the $275,000 Distaff, while Florida's strength lies with standout Forbidden Apple in the $275,000 Turf.

HOUSTON - His last six Beyer Speed Figures are imposing indeed: 110, 107, 109, 107, 108, and 108. But partly because Forbidden Apple did not win any of those six races, the opposition has not shied from him for the Great State Challenge Turf at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday.

HOUSTON - The roller-coaster ride that has been trainer Ken McPeek's year may finally come to an end Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. McPeek's journey has been so glorious - yet so bumpy - that he will be saddened, but undoubtedly relieved, when it's over.

"This will be our last big weekend of the year," McPeek said Thursday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The field for Saturday's $100,000 Queens County Handicap at Aqueduct is very similar to that of last month's Stuyvesant Handicap. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens hopes his Snake Mountain can get a similar trip and result in the Grade 3 Queens County.

In the Stuyvesant, Snake Mountain received a ground-saving trip under Jose Santos, who waited for an opening along the rail turning for home and guided his horse on through en route to a half-length victory over Windsor Castle.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Men's Exclusive can earn a place in Hollywood Park history with a win in Saturday's $100,000 Vernon Underwood Stakes.

Since the fall meeting began in 1981, only one horse has won three consecutive runnings of a major stakes - Flawlessly, who took the Matriarch Stakes from 1991-93. On Saturday, Men's Exclusive will try for an unprecedented third consecutive win in the six-furlong Underwood.

NEW ORLEANS - The drip, drip of light rain Thursday morning threatened to play havoc with the $60,000 Dr. A.B. Leggio Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds Saturday. Scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, the Leggio's complexion would be altered significantly if it's moved from turf to dirt because of rain.

MIAMI - Despite carrying high weight of 121 pounds and breaking from the outside post, Babae is still the horse to beat when she faces nine rivals, including the Christophe Clement-trained pair of Strawberry Blonde and Volga, in Saturday's Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap at Calder.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Spirit One, an upset winner over allowance rivals on Nov. 24, will try to confirm her quality when she takes on five tough older fillies and mares in Saturday's feature at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong race for $10,000 claimers.