AUBURN, Wash. - Ashbecca, the champion juvenile filly at last year's meet, returns to Emerald Downs on Sunday when she takes on six rivals in the $45,000 Federal Way Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ashbecca's most noteworthy accomplishments last season were a come-from-behind victory in the one-mile Barbara Shinpoch Stakes and a good fourth against male competition in the rich Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles. She will not be favored in Sunday's sprint, but trainer Steve Bullock feels it is in the filly's best interest to run.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The California handicap division has crumbled. Send in the replacements, whoever they are.

Six modest older horses race 1 1/16 miles Sunday in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park. They seek a $150,000 purse and leadership of a rudderless division.

Face it - Tiznow's retirement left a colossal void. It will not be filled Sunday; the Mervyn LeRoy field is mostly sugar.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer John Salzman said there is truly only one way to find out whether the trip to Dubai and back has dulled Xtra Heat, and that is to run his filly.

Salzman entered Xtra Heat, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, in Sunday's $150,000 Genuine Risk Handicap at Belmont Park. It is Xtra Heat's first race since finishing third against males in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 23.

Xtra Heat, who is based at Laurel Park, is a standout over five fillies and mares in the six-furlong Genuine Risk, a Grade 2.

CHICAGO - Once, a long time ago, there was a 3-year-old colt that won the Florida Derby, the Blue Grass, and was favored in the Kentucky Derby.

His name was Harlan's Holiday. Ring a bell?

Actually, it's been all of a week since Harlan's Holiday finished an even seventh in the Derby at 6-1, the longest-priced Derby favorite ever.

Harlan's Holiday raced well behind a moderate pace, made a little run around the far turn, and beat 11 horses. Disappointing, yes, but hardly disastrous.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Six Hitter, the newest star in the galaxy of trainer Bobby Frankel, will make his United States debut on national television in the $100,000, Grade 3 Ascot Handicap on Sunday at Bay Meadows.

Seven 3-year-olds will run in the 1 1/16-mile race on the Longden Turf Course, which will be aired live on the NTRA's 2day At The Races show, airing from 2-2:30 p.m. PDT on ESPN2.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two prominent California-based 3-year-olds - Roman Dancer and Ocean Sound - have been sidelined by injuries that will force them out of training.

Roman Dancer, the winner of the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita and the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct this spring, was diagnosed Thursday with a bone chip in his right knee, according to trainer Christopher Paasch. Roman Dancer will be sidelined for four months.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Maybe it has something to do with a parent's day. When Red Antics notched the only triumph of his 13-race career, it was on Father's Day last year. Sunday, when hundreds of families gather at Churchill Downs to celebrate Mother's Day, Red Antics might very well come through with his second triumph.

MIAMI - has taken his owner-breeders, Al and Barbara Smollin, to racetracks all over the United states during a career that has seen him win three Grade 1 races and earn just under $2.5 million. But the Smollins and their star have yet to visit Chicago, a situation that will be rectified next Saturday, when Sir Bear should be among the favorites in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A year ago Sunday, looked awesome winning a preliminary allowance race by seven lengths at Belmont Park. Less than three months later, Victory Ride became a Grade 1 winner in the Test Stakes.

Unfortunately, Victory Ride broke a leg during a workout shortly after the Test, and her future as a racehorse was very much in doubt.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Madame Roar rolled into Woodbine six weeks ago from her Maryland base and embarrassed the locals with a front-running, six-length victory in the five-furlong La Voyageuse Handicap.

Madame Roar will try to turn the trick again, this time going 6 1/2 furlongs, in Sunday's $162,450 George C. Hendrie Handicap, a Grade 3 race for fillies and mares.