ARCADIA, Calif. - The $1.325 million California Cup at Santa Anita has typically been a season-ending goal for owners and trainers, as well as a chance to prove that their statebreds are among the best in the state.

This year, owner Wes Fitzpatrick and trainer Ian Jory are taking a different approach. They are starting Continental Red in Saturday's $250,000 California Cup Classic as a springboard to a newly created $1 million race on dirt in the Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park in January, a series that pits Florida-breds against California-breds.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Father Steve and Abduction, two horses whose connections thought they would be well past the second-level allowance condition by now, will attempt to clear that hurdle Friday going one mile at Aqueduct.

Father Steve, a $900,000 son of Pulpit, bucked shins after winning his maiden in his second start last October. He didn't make it back to the races until July when he won a six-furlong entry-level allowance race at Belmont. In his next start, Father Steve skipped a condition and finished third versus third-level allowance runners.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Less than a week ago the Breeders' Cup swept through Chicago, bringing the world's best racehorses to Arlington Park. The shift in scene could hardly be more radical, as Chicago racing returns Friday to Hawthorne in heavily industrialized Stickney, where it remains for the rest of the season.

The surroundings may not attract an international audience, but Hawthorne has its place in the regional scene. Urban Hawthorne is easier for city folks to reach than suburban Arlington, and local horsemen find it easier to reach the winner's circle here.

Sam Houston Race Park has finally landed a national event. The track, which made a pitch for the Breeders' Cup a few years ago, didn't get the Cup, but it has been chosen to host the inaugural National Thoroughbred Racing Association Great State Challenge during its 80-day meet that opens Friday night and runs through March 30.

"It's going to be great exposure for us in the city and on a national level," said Bob Bork, president of Sam Houston in Houston, Texas.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Will a new star be born when Century City makes his U.S. debut in Sunday's $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby for trainer Beau Greely?

Century City, a $2.2 million yearling at the Goffs Sale in Ireland in October 2000, was purchased in June by Tom Nichols and Greely's brother, John IV, for an undisclosed amount from Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier.

ARCADIA, Calif. - An insurance program that would reduce workers' compensation rates paid by California trainers will not go into effect by Friday, the date that racing officials had hoped it would be implemented.

Instead, they are hoping that the program can be in place by Nov. 15, which could lead to widespread savings for trainers who have paid higher rates for the compulsory insurance this year.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Seven evenly matched 3- and 4-year old fillies will seek a second career victory in Friday's allowance feature at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong sprint with a purse of $4,200.

The field includes two 4-year-olds, and both figure to attract significant support. One is Kiltee, who won her lone start in February by six lengths. The other, Dream Weaver, comes in off a creditable second under the same conditions on Oct. 19.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The finale on Friday's 10-race card at Woodbine could be a foregone conclusion if the track comes up sloppy.

The speedy Tax Deferred absolutely adores a wet track and will be hard to catch in the first-level allowance if it rains.

The 1 1/8-mile distance of the race is seemingly beyond his optimum capabilities, however, and he may be hard-pressed to stay the trip on a fast track.

Tino Attard trains Tax Deferred, who has won 6 of 12 starts this year in a campaign that began with an authoritative score Jan. 7 at Gulfstream.

SALEM, N.H. - The owners of Rockingham Park have announced an agreement with a Massachusetts development company to explore other uses of the track's property and the possibility of discontinuing racing after 2004.

Rockingham Venture Inc. and Eastern Development, LLC - a group that specializes in office and retail development - will look at new options for the land but have promised to continue racing at the track for two more seasons.

Veteran jockey Shane Sellers posted his first victory in more than a year when he rode heavily favored Uncommon Queen ($3.40) to win the sixth race by nine lengths Wednesday at Churchill Downs. Sellers, who has won more than 3,700 races, returned to riding Oct. 23 at Keeneland after having been away nearly a year after a serious knee injury in Dec. 2000 in a post parade accident at the Fair Grounds. Sellers attempted and abandoned a brief comeback at the 2001 Arlington Park summer meet.