ARCADIA, Calif. - Blue Grass winner Millennium Wind, who has not raced since finishing 11th in the Kentucky Derby in May, returns in Friday's $74,000 Skywalker Handicap at Santa Anita.

Trainer David Hofmans is using the Skywalker to launch Millennium Wind's fall campaign, which is tentatively scheduled to include the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. Wintertime goals include the Strub series at Santa Anita, which starts with the Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26.

"I think I've got him ready for a winter campaign," Hofmans said. "Hopefully, we'll continue on."

PORTLAND, Ore. - I'm Yer Hucklebery will be the one to catch in Friday's featured eighth race at Portland Meadows, a 5 1/2- furlong event for $8,000 nonwinners-of-two, which has drawn a field of seven.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The first win will come soon enough, maybe even by Friday afternoon. Steve Flint, having recently taken over the talent-rich stable owned by the Klein family, was a bit downhearted Wednesday after his charge Exotic Wager lost in the third race at Churchill Downs.

"That's 0 for 6 right there," said Flint, who assumed the Klein horses from his father, Bernie, after Outofthebox won the Grade 1 Super Derby on Sept. 23 for the Kleins.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Tails of the Crypt could put a post-Halloween scare into his five opponents in Friday's sixth race at Woodbine, a $58,100 allowance for 2-year-olds.

Late-running Tails of the Crypt should have plenty of speed to run at in the one-mile turf race, with Union Place, Funny Soldier, and Excellabet likely to be battling on the front end. Tails of the Crypt nearly won his lone turf race in a one-mile maiden special Sept. 16, coming from four lengths back to miss by a nose.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Purses for the current Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting have been increased by six percent, retroactive to opening day, Sept. 26, track officials said Wednesday.

The announcement was made at the draw breakfast for the California Cup by Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Tree's executive vice-president. The increase adds approximately $480,000 to purses, or $15,000 per day. The meeting concludes Monday.

"I thought with all the horsemen there I wanted to give them a shot in the arm," Chillingworth said of the timing of the announcement.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Although it generated a relatively small pool, Hawthorne's $50,000 guaranteed pick six was hit Wednesday on the first day of the track's fall meet.

The pick-six pool of $8,920 was way short of covering the guarantee, and Hawthorne was forced to make up the difference. One winning ticket, worth $37,606.80, was sold. The guaranteed pool is taxed at a 25 percent rate.

MIAMI - Two Item Limit was the only representative from Calder Racecourse at Saturday's World Thoroughbred Championships, and the 3-year-old filly did her local supporters proud, finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff for owner Joseph Graffeo and trainer Steve DiMauro.

STICKNEY, Ill. - It's the rare top-quality horse that makes his way to Hawthorne in November, but fans here might see a stakes horse in the making on Friday. Cashel Castle, a standout 2-year-old winner early last month at Arlington, makes his second start in the ninth race, a first-level sprint allowance for juveniles.

Cole Norman, the nation's third leading trainer by wins, last week set a new standard for victories in a season at Louisiana Downs. But he will slow down markedly after the current meet ends Nov. 11 - just as he did last year. Norman plans to make a limited number of starts with his stable for the remainder of the year in order to refresh his barn for the meet at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., which opens Jan. 25.

"Some will remain in training at Louisiana Downs, and some will be turned out," said Norman. "We'll go to Oaklawn on Jan. 1."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With necessity being the mother of invention, the Churchill Downs Distaff has developed into a nice little race since its 1986 inception.

Designed partly as an early-meet prep for the Falls City Handicap and partly as a stand-alone race for fillies and mares with a preference for a one-turn mile, the Distaff now is a Grade 2 event, surpassing the more historic Falls City, a 1 1/8-mile race that carries a Grade 3 ranking.