HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The key question when it comes to handicapping Thursday's $38,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park may not be whether one of trainer Christophe Clement's European-breds will win the 1 1/8-mile turf race - but which one.

Clement, whose success with European-breds and European invaders at Gulfstream over the past several winters is well documented, will send out an uncoupled entry in Thursday's feature: the Irish-bred mare Lady Upstage and the English-bred filly Sauterne.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Tony D'Amico smiled wanly, trying to hide his disappointment.

He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, arched his eyebrows. He didn't bother to say, "What can you do?" His body language already said it.

It was Monday in the Gulfstream jockeys' room, where D'Amico had just been informed by trainer Ken McPeek that he would no longer be the regular rider of Repent, the colt who is the solid Kentucky Derby favorite in the eastern United States. D'Amico had ridden Repent in all six of his races, four of them victories.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The lineup for Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap changed dramatically over the weekend when Mizzen Mast, the winner of the Malibu and Strub stakes, was withdrawn because of injury.

The absence of Mizzen Mast may make the Big Cap a more intriguing betting race, but there is a lack of depth among the remaining 11 probable starters. When weight assignments were announced on Sunday, Mizzen Mast and Lido Palace, who is out until summer, were given top weight of 120 pounds. Their absence leaves Euchre and Futural as the starting highweights at 118 pounds.

ALBANY, Calif. - After several years of waiting by local veterinarians and horsemen at Golden Gate Fields, construction of an equine medical facility at the track may finally begin as early as spring.

ALBANY, Calif. - His filly was second behind a real talent last time out, but trainer Chuck Peery could well visit the winner's circle this time with Halo Tyra in Golden Gate Fields's feature race on Wednesday.

A $63,000 purchase at the Barretts Sale last May, Halo Tyra won her debut on Jan. 6 in a six-furlong maiden sprint then ran second, 5 1/2 lengths behind talented Lost at Sea in a Feb. 3 mile race.

Halo Tyra figures to be well backed in Wednesday's feature, the first race, a one-mile $40,000 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The future of Beau's Town, who has won his last three races by a combined 10 1/4 lengths, is riding on the ninth race Wednesday at Oaklawn Park. His performance in the conditioned allowance will determine if he gets a chance at stakes company next month, in either the $150,000 Pelleteri Breeders' Cup at Fair Grounds on March 17, or the $50,000 Hot Springs here March 29.

"This race is going to tell us the next step," said Dave Hulkewicz, who owns Beau's Town. "He has to answer the bell."

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Evening Attire, who has developed into the dominant handicap horse in New York this winter, missed more than a week of training because of an illness and will not run in the $100,000 Stymie Handicap on March 9, trainer Pat Kelly said.

"A few horses got sick in the barn and we missed some training," Kelly said. "We're not going to nominate to the Stymie."

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tim Ritvo does not have to be asked whether he thinks Star Over the Bay can win Wednesday at Gulfstream.

All that needs to be known is Ritvo fully believed the colt would have been very competitive Saturday if rain had not forced the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Handicap off the grass. Star Over the Bay was one of five horses, including Hap, who was scratched from the race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Stephentown was the "now" horse coming into the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes but failed to live up to all the hype, finishing a tiring sixth behind as the 5-2 second choice in the final major prep for the $1 million Florida Derby on March 16.

Nobody was more disappointed in Stephentown's performance than his trainer, Anthony Reinstedler. He is more concerned about focusing on his colt's future than dwelling on the past.

Ideveter ($8.80) wired the field to win her first stakes in the $50,000 Valdale at Turfway Park.

Ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler, Ideveter won by 1 1/2 lengths over Art Fair in a time of 1:38.95 for one mile.

The Valdale was Ideveter's fourth consecutive win this winter at Turfway and her third straight at a mile. Her win in the Valdale pushed her career earnings over $80,000. Ideveter is trained by William Bradley.