EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Calling Saturday's Waquoit Stakes the first local step on the road to the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap is a bit far-reaching, but don't tell that to the connections of Basil's Rhythm, who has been entered in the Waquoit.

PHOENIX - Coming back is the underlying theme to Saturday's $30,000 Palo Verde Handicap at Turf Paradise.

* Can Duddly Doo Run return to the site of his fine maiden win last spring and pick up where he left off after a good campaign in northern California?

* Can Jetson return to his best form now that he is back doing what he likes best, namely sprinting?

Irving's Baby, a New York shipper who has run some of her best races at Laurel Park, returns for Saturday's $50,000 Maryland Racing Media Handicap.

The 1 1/8-mile stakes drew six fillies and mares.

Morluc, one of the most accomplished turf sprinters in the nation, will launch his 2002 campaign Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park in the $50,000 Sam Houston Turf Sprint Cup. The five-furlong race is one three turf stakes on the program, which is highlighted by the $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Serious handicappers from many destinations will be at Gulfstream this weekend when the Turf-Vivor contest, worth a total of $128,000 in prize money, is held for the first time.

The three-day contest begins Friday. First prize is $100,000, with the balance being distributed to the second- and third-place overall finishers and to the top earners during the Friday and Saturday preliminary rounds. Entries, which closed Feb. 15, were $750.

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Wrangler, winner of Monday's Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel Park, will aim for his first Grade 1 victory when he makes his next start in the $350,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 13, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.

Jerkens said *, who earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure Monday, appeared to come out of the race in good order. It was Wrangler's first victory at seven furlongs, making what will be a 53-day gap between races easier for Jerkens to digest.

The Carter, run over Aqueduct's main track, is also contested at seven furlongs.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - One savvy ticket-holder took home a $194,357 payoff, the entire pool, for correctly selecting the pick six on Wednesday's program at Gulfstream Park.

The winning ticket was bet through the Lewiston, Me., hub, which encompasses several sites in northern New England along with an offshore outlet located in St. Kitts in the Caribbean. It is the same site that hit a pick six worth $100,391 here on Jan. 31.

Wednesday's pick six pool was boosted by a two-day carryover of $71,073. The Gulfstream record pick six payoff of $309,788 was set in 1979.

Doug Bredar said Wednesday that he has been hired as the racing secretary at Churchill Downs. He will assume his duties beginning March 8.

Bredar replaces Jerry Botts, who held the position until his death Jan. 1. Four other people were interviewed for the job. Bredar, 40, currently is employed as assistant racing secretary at Hollywood Park, which is owned by Churchill.

Jerry Simms, the majority owner of Turf Paradise, has reached an agreement to sell his stake in the track to his brother, satisfying an order of the Arizona Department of Racing, Turf Paradise officials said Tuesday afternoon.

Simms was told to sell his interest in the Phoenix track after regulators uncovered his connections to a California bribery scandal in the mid-1980's. His racing license was revoked last year, shortly after closing a $54 million deal to buy the track.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It would have been exciting. It would have been a gallant undertaking.

Heck, it was fun just thinking about it.

But after a day or two of further consideration, * will not be going to Dubai for the $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby on March 23.

"The risk was too much," said Ken McPeek, who trains Repent, currently the consensus favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.