FORT ERIE, Ontario - Pecos Star, one of Fort Erie's best-known performers, has been retired. The 9-year-old gelding who was the king of the quarter-milers here had developed a habit in which his rear left leg would strike his front ankle during an all out run. Serious cuts would result.

Despite special boots, shoe modifications, and bandaging, trainer Ted Dobbie couldn't eliminate the problem. "Enough is enough. I just couldn't do it to him anymore," said Dobbie, who claimed the horse

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - In a rerun of the 2000 Canadian Oaks, Catch the Ring collared front-running Mountain Angel in the final strides to capture the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine.

Catch the Ring ($2.90) trailed early in the 1 1/4-mile race, as Mountain Angel set uncontested fractions of 23.95 seconds, 48.22, and 1:12.76. Catch the Ring commenced a four-wide rally on the far turn under Robert Landry, and prevailed by a half-length in a time of 2:03.62. Madame Red finished third in the eight-horse field.

This time, there were no traffic problems to hinder La Reine's Terms.

Making amends for a near-collision that wiped him out of contention as the favorite in last month's Maryland Million Turf, La Reine's Terms ($7.40) bounced back by winning the $75,000 Find Handicap at Laurel Park.

Ridden by Larry Reynolds for trainer Larry Murray, La Reine's Terms covered 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:50.12. New York shipper My Request rallied strongly to finish second, a half-length behind the winner.

MIAMI - Raponera, who had not won a race all season and had never won on grass, broke both of those losing streaks in high style when she rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory over Golden Saint in the $54,560 Powder Break Handicap at Calder.

Raponera ($34.80) avoided some severe crowding to her immediate outside leaving the gate, raced within easy striking distance on the backstretch, readily overtook the tiring leader I No Best leaving the far turn, and, after drawing clear in midstretch, withstood a closing surge from Golden Saint.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Thirty-one starts into his career, the 6-year-old Galic Boy won his first graded stakes race Saturday, beating heavily favored Where's Taylor in the Grade 3 $150,000 Robert Carey Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nasty Storm is tentatively scheduled to be sold at the November Sales at Keeneland this week. But after the filly won her third straight race by wiring the field Saturday in the Grade 2 $222,200 Churchill Downs Distaff, her connections may drive a very hard bargain.

"There's just one problem," said Riley McDonald, one of five partners who own Nasty Storm. "We're having too much fun."

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rochelle's Terms, the longest price in the field at 26-1, came with a late run to win Saturday's $108,500 Turnback the Alarm at Aqueduct.

Rochelle's Terms collared Resort with less than a sixteenth remaining for a half-length win in the Grade 3 race. Strolling Belle, the 3-5 favorite in the six-horse field of fillies and mares, had a nightmare trip and finished third, two lengths behind Resort.

Completing the order of finish in the 1 1/8-mile Turnback the Alarm were Unrestrained, Out of Sync, and Indy Bird.

ARCADIA, Calif. - In order for Janet to extend her California win streak to five on Sunday at Santa Anita (the skein includes two Grade 1's) she must defeat one of the deepest filly-mare turf stakes run this year in California.

A field of nine entered the Grade 2 Las Palmas Handicap, including seven with a legitimate chance in the $250,000 race at 1 1/8 miles. Grade 1 winner Tout Charmant starts as the 121-pound highweight, hoping for better racing luck than her most recent start, while Janet carries 120 pounds.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Harlan's Holiday captured three stakes this summer, foremost among them the Cradle at River Downs.

Meanwhile, two of his primary challengers in the $100,000 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs were taking three tries apiece to win a maiden race - albeit maiden races on the two toughest circuits in North America. Yoga finally broke through with a victory at Belmont Park on Sept. 29, and Janadel posted his first win a week later at Del Mar.

JAMAICA, N.Y. - She spanked 'em at Saratoga, and blew 'em away at Belmont. Sunday, Lujien Lujien completes her tour of the New York Racing Association tracks when she heads a full field of 2-year-old fillies entered in the $75,000 Miss Grillo Stakes at nine furlongs over Aqueduct's turf course.

Fifteen juvenile fillies were entered for the Miss Grillo, but only 12 will be permitted to run. They all have Lujien Lujien to beat.