VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Fancy As left no doubt that he's the best 3-year-old in Western Canada with a decisive 3 1/2-length win over I'm Free in the $217,260 British Columbia Derby at Hastings Park Saturday. Under a well-timed ride by Richard Hamel, Fancy As took control from I'm Free at the top of the stretch and then drew off with authority to post an impressive win over one of the best fields seen here in recent years.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia ? A small but competitive field of fillies and mares will line up to go 1 1/16 miles in a $25,000 optional race at Hastings Park this Wednesday evening. With a lively pace expected it should set up nicely for Mighty Dixie who was stakes placed at the distance last season but is still looking for her first win of this year.

Wednesday's headliner at Bay Meadows, a $34,000 optional claiming/ allowance dash, provides handicappers with an interesting question: Go for the sharp recent runners or a classy fellow returning from a long layoff? The six-furlong race drew six entrants, and the classy Mellow Fellow makes his return after nearly 15 months on the sidelines.

ARCADIA, Calif. - If he lets his emotions show, Tiznow will go into Sunday's $500,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap kicking and screaming. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Tiznow's competitive spirit is coming back. En route to the track for a workout Monday at Santa Anita, he lashed out with his left hind leg and cut the left hind leg of the pony who was accompanying him. The thud was sickening.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - After the interferers, the interferees, and the just plain also-rans were taken into account, the connections of just two of the 12 entrants in Sunday's Canadian International at Woodbine had genuine cause to celebrate.

One, of course, was Mutamam, the English invader who had a smooth trip after breaking from the outside post and gamely held off Paolini to record his 11th win from 20 career starts.

ELMONT, N.Y. - King Cugat, who finished second as the odds-on favorite in Saturday's Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational, came out of the race with strained ligaments in his left foreleg and will be forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Turf, trainer Bill Mott said Monday.

Mott believed the injury was to the distal sesamoidean ligaments located at the base of the sesamoid where it attaches to the pastern bone. On Monday, Mott was waiting for the results of an ultrasound, "which could display something more definitive."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nandi Stakes winner Jade Eyed should be favored in Wednesday's $103,900 Victorian Queen Stakes, a six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Jade Eyed pulled off a 28-1 shocker when she won her debut against $80,000 maidens July 12. She won that six-furlong event by five lengths, running six furlongs in 1:13.20.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A change in travel plans led to a 15-1 upset by Tali'sluckybusride in Sunday's $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita.

Originally scheduled to ship to Belmont Park for the Astarita Stakes on Oct. 8, Tali'sluckybusride was rerouted to the Oak Leaf Stakes after the shipping company could not guarantee the travel dates.

Her win in the Oak Leaf Stakes gave owners Ron and Susie Anson their first success in a Grade 1.

"I've never been in a Grade 1 before, let alone won one," Ron Anson said.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The team of San Nicolas and jockey Jose Santos have shared two important events this year at the Meadowlands. Together they finished second opening day in Santos's first mount back after a wrist injury. Saturday night, the colt earned the rider his first stakes victory since that injury in the $100,000 Kingland Stakes.

The Jeff Bonde-trainee stormed up to pacesetter Run Kush Run to get a slim nose advantage in the six-furlong test for 3-year-olds. He paid $17.00 and stopped the clock in 1:08.77.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - English invader Mutamam prevailed with determination by a half-length over German runner Paolini in an inquiry-filled running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Canadian International at Woodbine Sunday.

Mutamam, the 4-1 second choice under Richard Hills, covered 1 1/2 miles over firm turf in 2:28.46. A 6-year-old son of Darshaan, Mutamam earned $900,000 for Shadwell Stable and trainer Alec Stewart, which boosted his bankroll to $1,383,454.