ARCADIA, Calif. - The search for a firm turf course has brought the European star Banks Hill to California for Saturday's $500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes and an eagerly awaited confrontation with Golden Apples, the top female on turf in the United States.

Normally, racing fans would be denied such a matchup until the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Arlington Park on Oct. 26. Now, the Yellow Ribbon winner could inherit the role of favorite for the Filly and Mare Turf, which Banks Hill won convincingly at Belmont Park in 2001.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Summer Colony, the leader of the older filly and mare division on the East Coast, is part of an exceptional field in Saturday's $750,000 Beldame at Belmont Park.

The Grade 1 Beldame, a weight-for-age race, drew seven runners, including Ruffian winner Mandy's Gold, Gazelle winner Imperial Gesture, and Alabama runner-up Allamerican Bertie.

Older horses carry 123 pounds. Imperial Gesture and Allamerican Bertie, the only 3-year-olds in the field, tote 120 pounds. Three-year-olds have done very well in the Beldame, winning the race seven times since 1990.

ELMONT, N.Y. - An injury to his left hind ankle has knocked Zavata out of Saturday's $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, strengthening the chances of Icecoldbeeratreds and Pretty Wild of winning the Grade 1 race.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The opposition tried to challenge Azeri at various points in Wednesday's $217,500 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita, but in the end it made no difference.

Winning her sixth consecutive graded stakes, Azeri pulled away in early stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths and confirm her status as the favorite for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff at Arlington Park on Oct. 26.

Azeri ($2.60) finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.10 under jockey Mike Smith. The 4-year-old Azeri carried top weight of 127 pounds and spotted her rivals from 11 to 15 pounds.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - After going unplaced in the $200,000 B.C. Derby, stakes winners No Time Flat and Ekati look for some class relief as they drop into a $50,000 optional race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on Saturday at Hastings Park. It didn't turn out to be an easy spot, though, as the field also includes Leloup and Eternal Odyssey, who have shown tremendous potential in their short careers.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Captain Creek, third in the restricted Alberta Breeders' Handicap here Sept. 21, shoots for his first victory of the year in an optional claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs Saturday.

A lightly raced 5-year-old from Ernie Keller's barn, Captain Creek was a close second in an optional claiming race in his race before the Alberta Breeders'. This will be his sixth start of the year.

With Real Simard in the saddle, Captain Creek heads a field of six.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Avanzado, a winner of back-to-back races at Del Mar, will make his East Coast debut in Sunday's $250,000 Forest Hills Handicap.

The Grade 2 Forest Hills will be run at six furlongs on Belmont's main track.

Avanzado, trained by Doug O'Neill, arrived at Belmont earlier in the week from Hollywood Park.

Avanzado was running in Argentina in the spring when owner Mike Cooper, on the advice of bloodstock agent and former trainer John Fulton, privately purchased the horse.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Forbidden Apple returns to his favorite course and preferred distance Saturday when he aims for an unprecedented three-peat in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.

Forbidden Apple, a 7-year-old son of Pleasant Colony, is 7-3-1 from 13 starts on Belmont turf. Four of those victories have come at one mile, including the last two runnings of the Kelso. Forbidden Apple is winless in five starts since last year's Kelso, which is not to suggest he is showing his age.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Shug McGaughey shoots for his fifth win in the Frizette on Saturday with Matron winner Storm Flag Flying, the 7-5 favorite at the close of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies future book bet.

Storm Flag Flying will be favored among seven 2-year-old fillies in the $500,000 Frizette, one of three Grade 1 Breeders' Cup preps on the Belmont Park program.

ANDERSON, Ind. - The Swifty Farms partnership of Don and Dana Myers has a twofold interest in this year's Indiana Derby. Swifty Farms, which is located in Seymour, Ind., not only is the breeder of Pass Rush - who is now owned by Michael Tabor and trained by Patrick Byrne - but also is part-owner of Wiseman's Ferry with Morton Fink and Lee Sacks.