SAN MATEO, Calif. - Call it Cal Cup Light, but Bay Meadows gets into the spirit of Santa Anita's California Cup with a pair of stakes races for California-bred juveniles on Saturday.

Ten fillies entered the Bam's Penny Stakes, while six colts entered the Don B. Stakes. Both races were named for past Cal-bred stars and will be run at six furlongs. Both have $80,000-added purses.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - In the past few years horsemen from Alberta, Winnipeg, Washington, and Oregon have flocked to Hastings Park to claim horses at the end of the meet and take them back home. With the shortage of horses in British Columbia and a desire by the Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association to discourage this type of raiding, Debbie Peebles, director of racing at Hastings, has come up with an innovative condition book for the last four weeks of the Hastings meet.

ARCADIA, Calif. - When an owner drops in a claim of $10,000 for a horse, there is often a surprise or two when the horse returns to the barn.

But when trainer Frank Monteleone looked at Rio Oro in the Del Mar paddock in summer 2001, the gelding's problems were fairly obvious. "He had everything - a tendon, he looked bad - I didn't want to claim him."

Monteleone was overruled by owner Bernie Schiappa, who said, "It's only money."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - In most years, Mobil would lock up Canadian champion juvenile honors with a win in Saturday's Coronation Futurity, an important nine-furlong race for Canadian-breds.

But because of the triumphs of his high-profile stablemate Wando and the unbeaten Added Edge, it will probably take a Herculean effort for him to have a chance at the Sovereign award.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Statebred stakes races aren't supposed to showcase the top talent in a region, but Saturday's $30,000 Eleanora Sears Handicap at Suffolk Downs will match two of the best female runners in New England in a sprint for Massachusetts-breds.

Both Sunlit Ridge and African Princess are coming off layoffs and returning to their home track. Both are also stars of their two highly successful Bay State pedigree lines.

MIAMI - Trainer Marty Wolfson will have all bases covered, no matter what surprises the weatherman provides. Wolfson has five of the 14 entrants for Saturday's $40,000 Solo Haina Stakes on the turf.

Team Wolfson consists of Coolbythepool, Banderia, Stay Forever, Bail Money, and Abuela Esther for the 1 1/8-mile Solo Haina. It is likely, though, that only Banderia, Stay Forever, and perhaps Bail Money will start if the race goes as scheduled on the grass.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Prince of Wales victor Le Cinquieme Essai will be at Woodbine Sunday to contest the $100,000 Labeeb Stakes, a mile race on the turf. His trainer, Paul Nielsen, hopes a victory over older runners will earn Le Cinquieme Essai a Sovereign Award as champion 3-year-old colt or gelding in Canada.

Le Cinquieme Essai, a gelding, has won 4 of 5 starts this year. His loss came in Woodbine's Colonel R.S. McLaughlin Handicap, in which he finished last as the highweight. Nielsen blamed the loss on Le Cinquieme Essai displacing his tongue.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sam Son Farm's Catch the Ring has struggled this season, going winless in six starts.

But her trainer, Mark Frostad, is hoping she will find her way back to the winner's circle here in Saturday's Grade 3, $197,750 Maple Leaf Stakes, the same 1 1/4-mile race that she won to end her 2001 campaign.

In a race that will most likely be the last of her career, a victory by Catch the Ring in the Maple Leaf would boost her career earnings above $1 million.

Ruling Star, who has won all four of his starts this meet at Louisiana Downs, climbing the class ladder with each race, will try to become a stakes winner Saturday in the track's $30,000 Excalibur.

His task will not be easy. The seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds drew a competitive group, including stakes winners Richest Half and De Real Deal, as well as the talented Ole Rebel.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Julie Krone, the world's leading female rider, launches a comeback at Santa Anita on Friday, following a retirement of 3 1/2 years. A member of racing's Hall of Fame, Krone is booked on one mount - Justly Royal, a 2-year-old first-time starter, in Friday's fifth race. The race is run for fillies over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.