FLORENCE, Ky. - What Saturday's ninth running of the Kentucky Cup Classic lacks in star power, it compensates for with wagering value. The probable favorite in the field of nine is the perennially luckless Dollar Bill, but there would seem to be plenty of viable options among the rest.

The $400,000 Classic has become a stopover for many top horses since Turfway Park inaugurated the Kentucky Cup series in 1994, with genuine stars including Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Silver Charm (1998), and Captain Steve (2000) having won the Classic.

POMONA, Calif. - Pomona Derby winner Sigfreto, who has not won a race in nearly a year, returns Saturday to the scene of his greatest triumph. Graded stakes winner Dr. Park, winless in 14 months, also seeks a revival Saturday at Fairplex Park. Their droughts have been long, and skeptics wagering on the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes may wonder - have Sigfreto and Dr. Park lost a step?

ELMONT, N.Y. - In an effort to give Whywhywhy his best chance to win Sunday's Grade 1 Futurity at Belmont Park, trainer Patrick Biancone is considering entering the maiden Le Notre as a rabbit to ensure a solid, contested pace.

"I may run Le Notre as a pacemaker," Biancone said from Saratoga. "I'm not sure yet, because I'm not sure who's going to run."

When told that New Jersey shipper Valid Video, a front-running winner of the Grade 3 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park, may be the main speed in the race, Biancone said, "He may want company."

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Timely Minister heads a competitive field of nine older horses going 1 1/2 miles Saturday afternoon in a starter handicap, the third leg of the Endurance Series.

Although Timely Minister has been assigned high weight of 122 pounds, he might not be favored. Faithful Gal has won two of her three starts at 12 furlongs, and the Pat Jarvis-trained entrymates of Big Mig and Sensitive Issue have both done well in marathons. Plus, Tavolino recently defeated many of these going 1 1/16 miles.

AUBURN, Wash. - Slew's Carousel and Slew of the Night, who finished a nose apart when second and third in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race on Aug. 17, figure to share the favorite's role in Saturday's $25,000 Backstretch Chapel Stakes. The 6 1/2-furlong race, a restricted stakes for Washington-bred 3-year-olds, has drawn a field of six.

Slew's Carousel, who like Slew of the Night is by the prolific Washington sire Slewdledo, might have a slight edge for a couple of reasons.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Intact, trained by Stu Simon, will be given an opportunity Saturday to salvage a season for which great things had been anticipated.

Intact drew post 2 in a compact field of five 3-year-olds who will compete at 1 1/16 miles under allowance terms in the $18,100 feature at Northlands Park.

A British Columbia-bred, Intact launched his season with two successive second-place finishes, including the President's Handicap at Stampede Park.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Le Cinquieme Essai, perhaps the leading candidate for the Sovereign Award as this year's champion 3-year-old, heads Saturday's Grade 3, $164,700 Col. R.S. McLaughlin Handicap for 3-year-olds at Woodbine.

Le Cinquieme Essai, based at Fort Erie with trainer Paul Nielsen, is unbeaten in three starts this year. He won his maiden in a romp over Fort Erie's main track in early June, and then came here to take a one-mile allowance on the grass by 5 1/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rather than map out a plan that may take Volponi to a Breeders' Cup race next month, trainer Phil Johnson is plotting out a campaign he hopes will take him to the bank more often.

Johnson said any notion he had about running Volponi in the Breeders' Cup Mile was dispelled when Rock of Gibraltar committed to the race and Good Journey won last Sunday's Atto Mile at Woodbine. And, Johnson said Volponi has seen enough of With Anticipation's gray rear end to know he doesn't need to chase him in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Puzzlement's three wins have come around two turns, but on Saturday he drops back to a one-turn mile in the $150,000 Jerome Handicap.

The Jerome, a Grade 2 for 3-year-olds, drew seven runners.

Puzzlement and Boston Common, who will vie for favoritism, are the co-highweights at 118 pounds.

Puzzlement is coming off a fifth-place effort in the Grade 1 Travers. His trainer, Allen Jerkens, said Puzzlement bled "a couple of drops" in the 1 1/4-mile Travers and will run race with Lasix for the first time in the Jerome.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The Grade 1 Test will go down as one of the most exciting races run at Saratoga.

In a race that didn't deserve a loser, You beat the previously undefeated Carson Hollow by a nose.

You and Carson Hollow are both entered on Saturday at Belmont Park but in different spots. While You sets her sights on the Grade 1 Ruffian, Carson Hollow will be the favorite in the $100,000-added Floral Park.

Run for the first time as a graded event, the Grade 3 Floral Park, a six-furlong race, drew a field of five fillies and mares.