SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Zavata lived up to his 2-5 odds by overcoming a wide trip and a deep, slow Saratoga main track to win Wednesday's Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special by 7 1/4 lengths.

Lone Star Sky, who had to take up at the quarter pole, re-rallied to be second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Spite the Devil. Awesome of Course and Desert Warrior completed the order of finish.

Under Jerry Bailey, Zavata raced in third position but was four wide down the backside, behind Awesome of Course, who set fractions of 22.25 seconds and 45.70 while being chased by Desert Warrior.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Tony Calo, track announcer at Bay Meadows, is a man who puts his money where his mouth is.

Calo, whose passion for racing is evident in his race calls, is also a horse owner. His Winner's Code drew the rail for Friday's feature at the Bay Meadows Fair, a $25,000 claimer at six furlongs that drew five entrants.

Winner's Code makes a big jump up from the $8,000 level, where he scored an impressive victory at Vallejo on July 20.

"He's in tough," Calo said, "but horses get sharp. We think he's improving so we thought we'd give it a go."

MIAMI - The mystery of what caused Puck to pull up in distress following his fourth-place finish behind War Emblem in the Haskell Invitational was solved earlier this week. Puck suffered a hairline fracture of his right large pastern during the running of the race, said his trainer, Bill White.

Puck forced War Emblem's pace to the stretch of the Grade 1 Haskell, and jockey Cornelio Velasquez dismounted shortly past the finish line. But Puck walked back to his barn.

Jockeys Thomas Clifton and Rafael Medina will be out of action indefinitely after sustaining injuries in a freak accident that occurred after the fourth race at Penn National last Friday.

Clifton, the track's third leading rider with 44 wins, broke his right clavicle and Medina separated a shoulder in the spill, which happened as they were pulling up their mounts past the finish line. Jimmy's Lil Peanut appeared to stumble and fall, unseating Clifton. Medina and Reserved Seating were unable to avoid the fallen pair. Neither horse was seriously injured.

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Allan Plever has joined Great Lakes Downs as racing secretary, following the sudden resignation of Frank Stacks.

Stacks, who is currently practicing equine dentistry here, will be leaving soon for a position in the racing office at Sunland Park.

Plever, also the racing secretary at Sportsman's Park, served in that position at Detroit Race Course for many years before that track ceased operations in 1998. Plever, who owns a home in Muskegon, has served as a jockey agent at this oval in the past.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - The Fairmount Park chapter of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association held a chicken and beer dance Monday night as a benefit for former jockey Mike Dill, 40, who has been stricken with dystonia, a degenerative disease that attacks the nervous and muscular systems in a way similar to Lou Gehrig's disease.

Dystonia is the ultimate result of trauma and doctors believe an automobile accident in August 1999 involving a drunken driver is the root of Dill's condition, which is steadily deteriorating.

LAFAYETTE, La. - With three weeks remaining in the Evangeline Downs season, the heated battle for the top spot in the rider standings seems set to go down to the wire.

C.J. Woodley had another solid four days last week, including a win aboard the talented Prized Amberpro in Saturday night's Matron Handicap. Woodley now holds a four-win advantage over Steve Bourque, 81-77. Jamie Theriot continues to enjoy an outside chance at the title and is third with 71.

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Jerry Carkeek, injured in a three-horse spill at the Columbus Races last Saturday evening, will be out of action for at least four weeks.

Carkeek, who was released from an Omaha hospital Monday, suffered a fractured cheekbone, received stitches to his upper lip, and suffered a head injury that had doctors concerned over the weekend. Carkeek said Wednesday he's feeling fine now but is not to put himself into any dangerous situations until he has time to fully recuperate from the spill.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Jockey Seth Martinez, who won 10 races last week that put him atop the Canterbury Park rider standings, was involved in a controversial stewards' decision following the running of last Friday night's fourth race.

Martinez drove Mythique to the wire to prevail by a neck but found out soon after completing the race that his ride was the focus of a stewards' inquiry.

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel was working on arrangements Wednesday morning to ship $100,000 Round Table winner Cowboy Stuff to Remington Park for the Grade 3, $250,000 Oklahoma Derby on Aug. 25.

The colt, who had also been under consideration for the $65,000 Iowa Breeders' Derby at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 31, is based at Arlington Park near Chicago.