OCEANPORT, N.J. - When War Emblem rejoined the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational field last Saturday, there were only three other definite starters. At the draw Thursday, the field was up to nine. Although three horses are cross-entered in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga the same day, War Emblem has not scared any opponents away come Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Bettors on Thursday will have a pick six carryover of $125,908 to chase on an eight-race program at Del Mar.

The pick six covers the third through eighth races on a program that begins at 2 p.m. It could be a competitive pick six. No morning-line favorite is listed at shorter than 5-2.

There are no changes in the third through fifth race. In the sixth race, Run Rate is scratched along with Mary Moscow, Garden in the Rain, and Golden Sands. Milicia draws in from the also-eligible list.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Bob Baffert has had a stranglehold on the Graduation Stakes since the race went to 5 1/2 furlongs in 2000.

On Wednesday, for the third consecutive year, Baffert won the sprint for California-bred 2-year-olds, scoring with Icecoldbeeratreds, who led throughout and won by 3 1/2 lengths.

The time of 1:03.27 set a stakes record but the race has only been run over 5 1/2 furlongs for the last three of its 51 runnings. It was previously run over six furlongs.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Dallas Stewart can't be blamed if he still has nightmares about the 2001 Test Stakes and the sight of Nasty Storm rearing at the start before rallying to finish third behind Victory Ride and Xtra Heat.

Stewart is hoping Nasty Storm will have a little better racing luck on Friday when she takes on six other older fillies and mares, including likely favorite Gold Mover, in the $100,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Any doubts about whether Mayakovsky will be on his toes coming off a four-month layoff and turning back to six furlongs for Saturday's $150,000 Amsterdam Handicap at Saratoga were erased in 46.18 seconds here on Wednesday morning. That's the time it took for the powerful-looking Mayakovsky to work a half-mile in preparation for the first in what trainer Patrick Biancone hopes will be a series of four races leading up to the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - War Emblem shipped from California Wednesday and arrived safely at Monmouth Park, where he will be a heavy favorite in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational.

War Emblem, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, left his Del Mar stall at 3 a.m. Pacific and was vanned to Los Angeles International Airport, about a 90-minute ride. He flew out at around 5 a.m. and landed at Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 2:26 p.m. Eastern. He arrived at the Monmouth backside at 4:25 p.m.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Special Ring has a major role to fill in trainer Julio Canani's barn.

Canani has won two of the last three runnings of the Breeders' Cup Mile with Silic (1999) and Val Royal (2001). This year, he is optimistic that Special Ring can make the same race at Arlington Park in October.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - North East Bound, a 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winner on dirt and turf, began preparing Wednesday for his first start since running sixth in the Grade 2 Explosive Bid Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 24.

With regular rider Jose Velez Jr. aboard, North East Bound just breezed two furlongs in 24.60 seconds, and galloped out three furlongs in 38.20, according to Monmouth clockers. North East Bound had been out of training since the beginning of the meet becuase of foot problems, trainer Bill Perry said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Blythe Miller was knocked unconscious for several minutes but escaped with only minor injuries after her mount, Capeless, fell over the final jump in Wednesday's first race at Saratoga.

Miller, who will turn 34 on Aug. 7, complained of neck pains after regaining consciousness and was immediately taken to Saratoga Hospital, where CAT scans proved negative. She was expected to be kept overnight for observation.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Davids Expectation, perhaps the hottest 3-year-old at Woodbine, will experiment on the grass on Friday in the $80,900 allowance prep for the Play the King Handicap, a Grade 3 event on Aug. 17.

Davids Expectation is coupled in the Mockingbird Farm entry with last year's Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner, Exciting Story, who was entered for the main track only.