LEXINGTON, KY. - Tenpins, the heavy favorite in a field of four, took the lead at the start and withstood a serious challenge from X County late to win the Grade 3, $150,000-added Fayette Stakes, on closing day at Keeneland.

The winning margin was two lengths over X Country. Crafty Shaw was a distant third, and Invisible Ink finished fourth in a field reduced by one with the scratch of Rock Slide.

Tenpins ($3), the 1-2 favorite under Craig Perret, broke quickly from post 1 and grabbed the lead heading into the first turn while racing several paths off the rail.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Like father, like son is the latest handicapping angle to get results in the wake of stakes sweep in the slop by the Jerkens boys on a rainy and windy Saturday at Aqueduct.

Multiple Choice, trained by "Giant Killer Junior" Jimmy Jerkens, rated off early fractions of 22.85 and 46.01 seconds - as his stablemate Voodoo battled for the lead inside of Saint Verre and Sing Me Back Home - and rallied wide into the stretch to win the $111,400, Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap by a widening 7 1/4 lengths.

Very Geri rallied over yielding turf to win the $30,000 San Antonio Oaks by 1 1/2 lengths Friday night at Retama Park near San Antonio. Manzottina was second, two lengths clear of pacesetter and favorite Sheza Nasty Lady.

Very Geri ($5) settled in sixth early, launched her bid on the final turn, and ran down the leaders in the stretch to cover the

1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies in 1:47.58. Glen Murphy rode the winner for owner John Franks and trainer Eddie Milligan Sr.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Just Emma ($18.60), splashing through the fog and sloppy going, scored a half-length victory over Connies Travels in Friday night's $44,700 Evansville Stakes at Hoosier Park.

Ridden by John McKee, Just Emma rallied five wide into the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old Indiana-bred fillies. She reached the front nearing the furlong marker and held off Connies Travels to her outside. Thesullivanfive was just a head back in third along the rail.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Russell Baze won two races Thursday at Bay Meadows and went into the weekend on the threshold of a racing milestone.

Going into Friday night's card, he was just three wins short of joining Laffit Pincay Jr., Bill Shoemaker, and Pat Day as the only jockeys with 8,000 victories.

At age 44, Baze is poised to become the youngest rider to reach the 8,000 mark. Pincay, now 55, was 46 when he reached 8,000, and Day, now 49, was 47 when he accomplished the feat. Shoemaker, who retired in 1990 at age 58 with 8,833 victories, was 49 when he won his 8,000th race.

For someone returning to the Churchill Downs backstretch after a lengthy absence, the view can be startling. Just across the way, the ancient grandstand of this historic track in Louisville, Ky., is under major renovation, with towers, cranes, and new construction piercing the sky.

Racing fans still will recognize the Churchill Downs they have come to know and love, although that won't last much longer.

Churchill opens its fall meet Sunday as a track in transition, one where major construction is dominating the landscape. The

$120 million project, which will not be completed until early 2005, is well underway.

Truth be told, Dale Romans would gladly accept a tie every meet. Romans brings a remarkable recent record into the 30-day fall meet that begins Sunday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Although he has never been leading trainer at Churchill in the fall, Romans has tied for the title at each of the last three spring meets.

"Sure I'd take another tie, especially in the fall," said Romans, 36. "I want to run at least a couple every day. I've got a few horses that are fresh, so we should have a good month."

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Taiaslew, who has not been tested in four dominating wins in Alberta, will face eight other 2-year-olds in the $125,000 1 1/16-mile Ascot Graduation Breeders' Cup at Hastings on Sunday.

He should get a good test, with Jack Diamond Futurity winner Illusive Force and Fantasy winner Chorus Dancer entered. Weepinbell, who was very impressive winning a non-conditional allowance race Sept. 15, also figures to have a say in the outcome.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Quarter Horses take center stage at Portland Meadows on Sunday, when the track presents the $6,000-added Autumn Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at

350 yards.

Only four horses will challenge In Search of Fame, who looms a short-priced favorite off his record of 19 wins from 34 starts and more than $100,000 in earnings. In Search of Fame, a 6-year-old son of Dash Ta Fame who races for The Victory Group, has been at his toughest on this surface, winning 16 of 18 career starts here.