There are no major changes to the stakes schedule for the 2002 Fairplex Park meeting Sept. 13-29 at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona. The schedule is nearly identical to the one offered in 2001.

Last year's meeting was scheduled for 18 days, but there was no racing on Sept. 11 after the terrorist attacks.

The year's 17-day meeting has at least one stakes a day and five worth $100,000 or more. There are no graded stakes, but many of the stakes are used as preps for the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting in October and early November.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Five years ago, trainer Richard Mandella swept the first three positions in the Hollywood Gold Cup with Gentlemen, Siphon, and Sandpit. In the same race this Sunday, he would settle for a third-place finish by Out of Mind.

Mandella's older horse division is not as strong as it was in 1997 when those three combined for a remarkable record of six major stakes and earnings of $5,306,300.

"Believe me: I appreciated it at the time," he said on Wednesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Henry Cochran had his choice of four races in which to run Moon Solitaire following his victory in the King Edward Breeders' Cup Handicap at Woodbine last month.

With many of the nominated stars sitting out Saturday's $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park, the 1 3/8-mile turf race looks to be the right choice. Cochran chose the Grade 3 Bowling Green over the Stars and Stripes, the United Nations, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Running Tide, undefeated in five career starts, was expected to run at Monmouth in the Grade 3, $100,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes on Saturday, but trainer Rodney Jenkins said Wednesday that the horse would run instead in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on July 20.

Running Tide, coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Leonard Richards at Delaware June 8, would have been favored to continue his streak in the Long Branch, a prep for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Aug. 4.

A potential star is emerging from the River Downs jockey colony, a20-year-old apprentice named John McKee. Through Tuesday's card, McKee was tied for fifth in the standings with 41 wins, three of them coming on last Saturday's eight-race program.

A resident of Hamersville, Ohio, and a second-generation rider, McKee is a natural lightweight at 90 pounds. McKee's agent, Eddie Campbell, booked mounts for another star apprentice at River Downs, Steve Cauthen, in 1976.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Three riders were injured here on Saturday and Sunday.

Megan Ludlow went down on Saturday after picking up the mount on Flyin Brian at the last minute. Flyin Brian pitched Ludlow head first to the ground as they left the saddling area. She was taken away by ambulance and missed the remainder of the weekend, and Wednesday morning she was awaiting a doctor's clearance to resume riding.

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Born to Dance retained her dominance over her contemporaries here when she defeated six 3-year-old Michigan-bred fillies in the $45,000 Plymouth Stakes on Saturday evening.

Born to Dance, owned by Ro Parra and trained by James Jackson, was kept just off the pace by leading rider Terry Houghton before being asked for her run. The 2001 Michigan horse of the year, Born to Dance easily took over from the pacesetter, Bad Thing, and widened through the stretch.

Bad Thing finished second and Baklava finished third.

Trainer Tom Dorris, who was a regular here during the 1980's before moving north to become a force on the Chicago circuit, was on hand Saturday night to saddle Tejano Honey ($3), who won the $25,500 Ruffian Stakes. Tejano Honey won by more than 10 lengths with virtually no urging from Tommy Pompell. The win gives Tejano Honey, a 3-year-old filly bred by Dorris, a 5-2-2 record. The victory was her second in a stakes. She won the All Sold Out Stakes here last fall.

LAFAYETTE, La. - Beginning with One Tough Raiser's victory in the $100,000 Shine Young Futurity on the Fourth of July, and continuing with the Marathon Series on Friday and the start of the Quarter Horse season on Saturday, it was a busy week here.

One Tough Raiser, a son of I'ma Hell Raiser, kept his perfect record intact in the Shine, sprinting clear soon after the start under Steve Bourque and winning by just over two lengths in 59.40 seconds for the five furlongs. Trained by Kearney Segura, he has yet to be headed in his three-race career.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Trainer Edward Ross Hardy once again dominated the Canterbury Park Quarter Horse meet, which concluded last Sunday. Hardy won 16 races from 45 starts to lead the standings. He also won some of the races that counted the most.

He won two stakes last weekend when Capone's Vault captured the Grade 3, $38,300 Northlands Futurity and One Rare Bug powered clear in the Grade 3, $26,350 Canterbury Park Derby.