CHICAGO - It's tempting to see Saturday's $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup as a strictly regional race, a spot where a few decent horses run for a nice purse at a mid-level track tucked into a heavily industrialized corridor just west of Chicago.

But with a tableau of smelters, stacked shipping containers, and waste management sites as a backdrop, the Gold Cup showcases what could turn into a key field in this year's handicap division. That's what happened last year, though no one really knew it at the time.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Twelve years ago Sunday, trainer Neil Howard turned the tables on his old friend Carl Nafzger by sending out Summer Squall to defeat Unbridled in the Preakness, reversing their one-two finish in the Kentucky Derby.

On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Nafzger will try to give Howard a little taste of his own medicine when he sends out Solvig in the $100,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap. Solvig was upset in an opening-day allowance by the Howard-trained Quick Tip, one of nine other fillies and mares entered in the Grade 3 Mint Julep.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Golden Apples, the winner of the Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita in March, will miss the $500,000 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 27 because of the aftereffects of a throat abscess, her trainer, Ben Cecil said.

The 4-year-old Golden Apples will be turned out "for two to three weeks," Cecil said and be pointed for the Ramona Handicap at Del Mar on July 27.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Remember this about September Secret's debut win in a sprint for 2-year-old fillies last June: Runner-up Ayanna later won the Moccasin Stakes and third-place finisher Tempera won the Eclipse Award as the outstanding 2-year-old filly of 2001.

Add the achievements of fourth-place finisher Lady George, a multiple stakes winner and the California-bred champion 2-year-old filly of 2001, and the 10th race from June 10, 2001, becomes a genuinely live race.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Forest Heiress, the winner of the Colleen Stakes and Grade 3 Sorority, was sold to Stonerside Stable a month ago and will be trained by Bill Mott, previous trainer Ben Perkins Jr. reported Thursday.

MIAMI - In his younger days, Unite's Big Red was the undisputed leader of the local turf division, a title he earned with victories in Gulfstream Park's Pan American and Mac Diarmida handicaps. Now at the age of 8, he will attempt to reassume the top spot in the division with a big performance in Saturday's $75,000 Carterista Handicap at Calder Race Course.

The 1 1/16-mile Carterista drew a full field of 12 and will be the final live event on the 13-race card that concludes with the simulcast of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico.

Five years or 50,000 miles is the standard warranty offered by most automobile manufacturers. Jockey Anthony Black uses a slight twist of that phrase to describe how much longer he intends to ride.

In Black's case, it's five years or 5,000 wins.

Black, who will turn 51 in September, comes into Saturday's program at Delaware Park needing 70 wins to reach 4,500 for his career. He admits he would like to reach the 5,000 milestone before he calls it quits, but only if he can remain competitive while in pursuit of that goal.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Tails of the Crypt and Changeintheweather, both defectors from the road to the Kentucky Derby, will meet Queen's Plate contenders Ford Every Stream, Barbeau Ruckus, and Anglian Prince in Saturday's $162,750 Marine Stakes.

The Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds will be the 10th race on the expanded 11-race Woodbine card. The simulcast of the Preakness Stakes will follow the final race.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Darrell Vienna wouldn't be surprised if Saturday's running of the $150,000 Yerba Buena Breeders' Cup Handicap at Bay Meadows winds up a lot like last year's race.

He wouldn't mind seeing the finish come up just as it did last year when his Janet took the lead midway through the race and defeated odds-on favorite Keemoon by three-quarters of a length.

The two head the field for Saturday's 1 3/8-mile turf race. Nepenthe, Polaire, Peu a Peu, and Racene were also expected to enter.

ALTOONA, Iowa - Trainer Ken McPeek will be at Pimlico Saturday to saddle Harlan's Holiday in the Preakness Stakes, but later McPeek will be well represented with Minister's Baby in the Diamond Trail Stakes at Prairie Meadows. Ten fillies and mares entered the $50,000 Diamond Trail.

Minister's Baby enters the mile and 70-yard stakes off a 10 1/2-length allowance score at Keeneland on April 19. Minister's Baby figures to stalk a hot early pace under the meet's leading rider, Terry Thompson.