In a move that would give Sam Houston Race Park in Houston less overlap with slots-rich Delta Downs in Vinton, La., Sam Houston has asked the Texas Racing Commission for an 83-date meet next year that would run from Aug. 1 to Dec. 27.

Sam Houston has run from November to March the past several years. Eliminating racing in January, February, and March of next year would minimize conflict with Delta Downs, which will race 80 nights from Nov. 7, 2002, to March 23, 2003.

Delta Downs is located about two hours east of Sam Houston.

ELMONT, N.Y. - It was not so much the fast pace in the Metropolitan Handicap that was the undoing of Affirmed Success and Left Bank, it was that they were part of it. Thursday, when New York's top two older sprinters meet in the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap, their connections would like to see their charges playing the role of stalkers and may the fastest finisher win.

The Grade 2 Tom Fool is the co-feature along with the $250,000, Grade 2 New York Handicap on a 10-race July Fourth holiday card at Belmont Park. Fans will receive a 12-pack cooler bag with paid admission.

Churchill Downs Inc. and its six tracks had not reached an agreement as of Tuesday afternoon to take bets on the three Breeders' Cup future bets this weekend, officials for both sides said.

Time is winding down for the sides to sign a simulcasting contract. Betting is scheduled to open at 1 p.m. Eastern on Thursday and continue through 7 p.m. Sunday.

Officials for both sides said they ultimately expected to reach an agreement, but they declined to comment on the sticking points in the negotiations.

Jockey Antonio Pena was listed in stable condition following a spill in Tuesday's fifth race at Philadelphia Park.

Attending physician Dr. Brian Rizen reported that the jockey was "semi-comatose" when he began his initial evaluation and that during the trip to the hospital, "mouth-to-mouth was needed to restore his vital signs. His blood pressure and vital signs had all stabilized by the time we reached the hospital," said Rizen.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Charioteer and Menacing Dennis were both Triple Crown hopefuls in the spring. While Menacing Dennis did run 10th in the Preakness, the distances of the prep races and the Triple Crown races themselves did not suit the two 3-year-olds. They return to sprinting in the Grade 3, $100,000 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup at Monmouth on Thursday.

The six-furlong Jersey Shore, the ninth race on the card, drew an extremely competitive field of seven 3-year-old sprinters. First post for the July 4 card is 2 p.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A hot pace, an explosive rally, and a bang-bang finish. Any or all of these scenarios could result Thursday at Churchill Downs, where a terrific field of 11 older horses could dare to take the Firecracker Handicap and the Fourth of July holiday almost literally.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Logic supersedes patriotism. Too bad, because no horse has a more fitting name for the American Handicap, to be run on the Fourth of July, than National Anthem.

Trouble is, nine others entered the 1 1/8-mile turf race at Hollywood Park, and National Anthem will be relegated to longshot status. The Grade 2, $150,000 American goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that includes the Grade 3 Landaluce for 2-year-old fillies (race 6).

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Longshot turf claimer Macaneo has been added to a small field of definite starters for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 14, while Kentucky-based Dollar Bill is also being considered. Runner-up to Street Cry in the Stephen Foster, Dollar Bill will have his plans finalized after a Saturday work, according trainer Dallas Stewart. Regarding the possibility of shipping to California for the Gold Cup, Stewart said Tuesday: "We're kicking it around. We'll see how the horse is doing. I'd say it's better than 50-50."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A field of reasonably talented 2-year-old fillies race six furlongs Thursday in the Grade 3 Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park. If there is a star in the division, she must be waiting for Del Mar.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Carson Hollow has been impressive winning her first three career starts. Saturday, she will get a huge class test when she runs in the Grade 1 Prioress at Belmont Park.

A New York-bred daughter of Carson City, Carson Hollow has not been out since winning the restricted Bouwerie Stakes by five lengths May 19. Trainer Richard Dutrow planned all along to wait for the Prioress, but he had an added excuse to keep Carson Hollow in the barn, as she bled in the Bouwerie.