ALBANY, Calif. - There are four reasons why trainer Nick Canani decided to run Devine Wind in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap.

With only four other horses entered in the 1 1/8-mile turf race at Golden Gate Fields, Canani decided it was worth a shot.

"The size of the field led to it," he said of the decision to run. "My horse is really doing well right now. He's training well and bounced out of his last race good. Whenever you get a chance to run for that kind of money, you look at it closely."

Hattiesburg, one of the top 3-year-old filly sprinters in the Midwest last year, will be a strong favorite to build on her success in Saturday's $100,000 Cicero Handicap for fillies and mares at Sportsman's Park.

Hattiesburg, the highweight in the six-furlong stakes at 118 pounds, is the only graded stakes winner in the eight-horse field. Last July 14, Hattiesburg rallied from 10th to win Calder's Grade 3 Azalea at six furlongs by a half-length. Before her win in the Azalea, Hattiesburg won stakes at Prairie Meadows, Lone Star, and Arlington.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Donnie Von Hemel, who will send out millionaire Mr Ross in the Grade 3, $100,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, has insight into the family of the race's probable favorite, Crafty Shaw.

Von Hemel trained Crafty Shaw's half-sister Her She Kisses until she was sold as a 4-year-old. A multiple stakes winner, Her She Kisses has earned $270,595.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Crafty Shaw will be favored when he attempts to win his fifth straight race Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park. But don't expect trainer Pete Vestal to feel pressure because of the winning streak. He's been here before.

In 1994-95 Vestal won seven races in a row with Ide, including the Southwest and Rebel stakes here at Oaklawn. Vestal won last year's Rebel with Crafty Shaw.

In addition to Rebel victories, Ide and Crafty Shaw also share "a strong determination to win," said Vestal.

NEW ORLEANS - The fillies that finished one-two in the Pan Zareta Handicap - My Brent's Diamond and Hallowed Dreams - are out of Saturday's Victoria Lass Handicap. The door leading to a $125,000 purse stands wide open.

With My Brent's Diamond retired and Hallowed Dreams temporarily on the sidelines, the six-furlong Victoria Lass could reasonably be won by any one of the seven fillies and mares entered. The weights say as much - all seven are separated by only a three-pound spread, from 112 to 115 pounds.

Faxamillion bids to extend trainer Steve Asmussen's stakes streak at Sam Houston Race Park when he starts as the probable favorite in Saturday night's $30,000 Texas Heritage. The race, at one-mile for 3-year-olds, in the past has produced prospects for the $500,000 Lone Star Derby.

Saturday's $50,000 Tejano Run Stakes has one of Turfway Park's best stakes fields since last fall. Aided by improving local weather and by Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park nearing the end of their meets, the race drew a full field of 12.

Three of the entries - Tahkodha Hills, Frazee's Folly, and Two Point Two Mill - come to Kentucky after wintering in the South. After racing against challenging company at Fair Grounds and Gulfstream, all three figure prominently in the 1 1/8-mile Tejano Run.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Forget all the luck of the Irish cliches this St. Patrick's Day Weekend: The key to Ireland-born Helena Keaveney's success at Suffolk Downs has been hard work and ability.

Keaveney, a 22-year-old apprentice rider from Galway, Ireland, has worked her way to the top 10 in the six months she has ridden in New England, despite several agent changes and an ugly-looking fall last month that caused her to miss two days but could have been much worse. Since this meeting began Jan. 1, she has 15 winners in 153 mounts.

PHOENIX - Apparently trainer Joseph Johnson thinks it's time to shake things up. Jetson, his prize 3-year-old, dominated the division sprinting as a 2-year-old. Things have not gone nearly as well this year, so Johnson sends Jetson a mile on turf in Saturday's $35,000 Tempe Handicap at Turf Paradise.

Jetson is the 121-pound highweight, but he certainly didn't scare anyone off - 10 have lined up against him.

Private Ryan had his five-race winning streak snapped when he finished second to Lyracist in last month's John B. Campbell Handicap. Private Ryan has the opportunity to turn the tables on Lyracist when they meet again in the $50,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Handicap at Laurel Park.

The top two from the Campbell will be joined by five others in the 1 1/8-mile Johnson.