Rainbow Futurity winner First to Flash is among 223 2-year-olds entered in 23 trials for the Grade 1, $1.9 million All American Futurity on Thursday at Ruidoso Downs.

The horses with the 10 fastest times qualify for the All American, Quarter Horse racing's richest race, on Labor Day. There is a 9:30 a.m. first post time for the 440-yard trials.

First to Flash is riding a 3-race winning streak, including the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity in his most recent out. His trainer, John Bassett, won last year's All American Futurity with Ausual Suspect.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Apprentice Omar Figueroa, who finished third in the jockey standings at the Bay Meadows spring meeting, will begin to ride full-time in northern California on Thursday.

Figueroa, who had 39 wins, 40 seconds, and 40 thirds from 268 mounts at the Bay Meadows meeting, is listed to ride six horses Thursday at the Bay Meadows Fair, including Benchclearingbrawl, the likely favorite in a five-furlong 2-year-old maiden claiming race.

AUBURN, Wash. - The season for speculation on the field for the Aug. 25, Grade 3 Longacres Mile officially opened on Sunday, when nominations closed for the $250,000 race, the highlight of the Emerald Downs meeting.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dave Cotey is one of the rare Woodbine-based trainers who will cast an eye westward when the occasion seems appropriate.

So it should come as no surprise that Cotey has nominated both Lady Shari and Mind Body Soul to Northlands Park's Aug. 24 Canadian Derby, a 1 3/8-mile race that offers Grade 3 status and a purse of $150,000.

"Right now, I'm leaning toward running Lady Shari," said Cotey, who co-owns the filly under his Dominion Bloodstock banner along with his usual partners, Hugh Galbraith and Derek Ball.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Zavata, who has yet to be defeated by a colt, will have a fresh challenger in Lone Star Sky when the two juveniles head a short field set to contest 6 1/2 furlongs in Wednesday's $150,000 Saratoga Special.

DEL MAR, Calif. - For the second straight year, trainer Richard Mandella will try to win Del Mar's $75,000 Osunitas Handicap with a South American import making her first start in this country. But that's about all that Paga, who won the race last year, and Noches de Rosa, who runs on Wednesday, have in common.

Paga had keen speed, and led from start to finish to win the 2001 Osunitas. Noches de Rosa takes far longer to get revved up, and will be trying to mow them down late.

EDMONTON, Alberta - The top 3-year-old fillies were in the spotlight at Northlands Park Saturday in the $75,000 Sonoma Handicap, which acts as the unofficial championship for the division.

Leading the way was Sweet Monarch, a British Columbia-bred who was upset by Code's Decree in the Northlands Oaks in late July but was looking to rebound against a similar field.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Expectations will be running high in Wednesday's eighth and final race at Woodbine, when As Expected, Expected Touch, and Pat's Expectations, all sons of Valid Expectations, clash in a six-furlong allowance worth $63,500.

As Expected is moving up off an authoritative win over $50,000 opposition, when he was claimed for $45,000 by trainer Tino Attard. He will cut back from his preferred distance of seven furlongs on Wednesday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Left Bank on Monday was recovering well following emergency colic surgery on Saturday, but is unlikely to race again, his connections indicated.

"The surgery was a success," trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning. "He's come out of the surgery well. He's in good shape this morning. The doctors were pleased with everything that's happened so far. But, as with any surgery, there can be complications, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes as smoothly as it has so far."

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Jockeys Jerry Carkeek, Jiri Peterka, and Chris Schooley were hospitalized Saturday night following a three-horse spill in the third race at Columbus Races.

Carkeek, aboard Delirious, was making a four-wide move into the far turn when his mount brushed with another runner, Hysteria, and fell. Schooley's mount, Night Before, attempted to jump the fallen horse but made contact with the downed horse to stumble and unseat Schooley. Jiri Peterka, aboard Talbott Tavern, then came through along the rail and clipped the legs of the fallen Delirious and also fell.