NEW ORLEANS - For many years, Herman Taylor harvested rice and soybeans on his farm in Arneaudville, La. But this season's crop includes Walk in the Snow, a modestly bred gelding who just might be the fastest Louisiana-bred 2-year-old in training.

That notion will be put to the test Saturday at Fair Grounds, when Walk in the Snow meets nine rivals in the $60,000 Sugar Bowl, a 5 1/2-furlong stakes for open 2-year-olds.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For a man who gets close to his horses, this has been a tough year for veteran trainer Carl Nafzger.

Nafzger not only endured the death of his 1998 champion filly, Banshee Breeze, early this year, but also was deeply saddened by the death last month of Unbridled, the great racehorse and stallion who helped Nafzger win his only Eclipse Award as top trainer by capturing the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic in 1990.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Perhaps more important than the long proud history of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, which dates to 1920, is the strong recent history of the race.

Seven of the last 10 winners of the Kentucky Jockey Club, Churchill Downs's premier race for 2-year-olds, have gone on to run in the Kentucky Derby the next year, several of them as highly regarded contenders. The names Dollar Bill, Captain Steve, Cape Town, and Concerto should be easily recognizable for serious racing fans.

PHOENIX - Considering that Jetson has won his last three races, you would think he would tower over his foes in Saturday's $25,000 Arizona Breeders' Futurity at Turf Paradise. But he figures to get a stiff challenge from Hollywood Warrior, who comes off a 6 1/4-length allowance win.

Also on Saturday, 12 Arizona-bred 2-year-old fillies will compete in the fillies division of the Arizona Breeders' Futurity.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Highland Legacy got the better of Devil Valentine last fall in the prestigious Coronation Futurity, and was crowned champion 2-year-old at year's end on the strength of that victory.

Circumstances have changed dramatically this year, however. Devil Valentine has evolved into one of the top Canadian-bred 3-year-olds at Woodbine, and will be odds-on in his rematch with Highland Legacy in Saturday's Sir Barton Stakes.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Cashel Castle and Handsome Hunk, both of whom have won their last two races, head a field of six entered for Saturday's $100,000-added Hoosier Juvenile at Hoosier Park.

Handsome Hunk, trained by Dale Romans for the Jacks or Better Farm, is coming off a victory in the Oct. 18 Fort Springs Stakes at Keeneland. He led throughout that day to defeat a field of only three other rivals. Before that he drew off for a two-length win against nonwinners-of-two allowance company, also at Keeneland. Justin Vitek will ride from post 4.

Maysville Slew and It'sallinthechase will both drop from graded stakes company Saturday to headline Remington Park's closing day features: the $75,000 Governor's Cup Handicap and the $75,000 MEC Mile. Special post for the first race at the Oklahoma City track is 2:30 p.m. Central.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - As much as trainer Vladimir Cerin would like to forget the 2000 Hollywood Derby, it still pops up in occasional conversations.

Last November, the Cerin-trained Designed for Luck was first past the wire at 58-1, but was disqualified for causing interference in deep stretch.

"I've had people as recently as two months ago show me the tickets from that race," Cerin said. "It's like they want me to pay them. There's no reason to carry those tickets. Maybe they want to commiserate. It's history."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Paxtecum is the only runner in the $200,000 Generous Stakes for 2-year-olds at Hollywood Park Saturday with an unbeaten record.

Following impressive wins by Paxtecum in a maiden race and an allowance race on turf at Santa Anita in October and November, his owner John Waken and trainer Mike Machowsky saw reason to supplement him to the one-mile turf stakes at a cost of $10,000.

"It's all kind of worked out," Machowsky said.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Galadriel will be stepping up in class when she goes to the post here in Sunday's Ontario Lassie Stakes.

While she is the only stakes winner in the field, and her success came at the Lassie's 1 1/16-mile distance, Galadriel was defeating Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies here in the South Ocean, and the Lassie is open to all Canadian-breds.

But trainer Roger Attfield believes Galadriel is ready for the sterner test.