ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A couple of months ago, when things were at their darkest in the Harvey Vanier barn, Wednesday's sixth race would have had a different outcome. No Dice would have battled along the rail in the $18,000 claiming race, narrowly edging the pair of horses to his outside - then he would have been disqualified for coming out inside the sixteenth pole and interfering with his opponents.

But Wednesday, after a long inquiry, the Arlington stewards made a tough call and left No Dice's number up, giving the resurgent Vanier barn another win here.

Two days into the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, the pick six has yet to be conquered, creating a carryover of $364,237 for Friday's program.

On Thursday, three favorites were successful in the pick six races, but three longshots, including upsets in the last two races, made the bet impossible to hit.

Beginning with the third race, the winners of the pick six races on Thursday were: Excessively Lucky ($7.20), Blue Moon ($5.60), Moossa's Girl ($16.60), Thundering West ($6.60), Impressive Grades ($58) and Bryanzole' ($14.60).

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Suffolk Downs begins a 150-day meet Saturday, the ninth meet held by Sterling Suffolk Ltd., a group that bought and reopened the track in 1992.

Racing will take place five days a week, with Thursdays and Sundays dark, through Dec. 22, when the live racing program takes a nine-day break. Racing will resume on Jan. 1, 2002. Post time is 12:45 p.m. daily. There will be nine races on Saturdays and eight the other days.

Who's the fastest filly in the country? Based on Beyer Figures, it's Xtra Heat.

The only question remaining to be answered is whether the 3-year-old Xtra Heat is fast enough to beat older males.

Xtra Heat, unbeaten in nine career starts at six furlongs and winner of 15 stakes at nine different tracks, preps for a possible start in next month's Breeders' Cup Sprint in Saturday's Sweet and Sassy Stakes at Delaware Park.

When Caller One didn't enter Saturday's $75,000 Marfa Stakes at Turfway Park - a prospect that had been seriously considered until early this week - the chances for victory suddenly brightened for several other horses in the field.Foremost among them are Sea of Tranquility and Dash for Daylight.

Last year, Sea of Tranquility won the Marfa, and trainer Richard Paulus was unwilling to concede the title simply because it looked as if Caller One might run. Having dodged that bullet, Sea of Tranquility figures as a major threat as the 122-pound highweight in the 6 1/2-furlong Marfa.

Tricky Storm, a nine-length stakes winner in his last start, is the logical pick Saturday in the $40,000-added Sport of Kings Futurity at Louisiana Downs. But it could be his entrymate Proud and Steady who ends up stealing the show in the 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds.

"I like both their shots, but I think Proud and Steady might surprise us all," said Cole Norman, who trains the two colts for Dr. K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Wabash Sue tries to regain her form in Saturday's $40,000 Madison County Stakes for Indiana-bred or -sired fillies and mares at six furlongs.

The Madison County kicks off a schedule of 26 stakes races to be offered at Hoosier Park through the 70-day meet.

Trained by Ray Stifano, Wabash Sue has yet to find her 2000 form, when she won three races and earned more than $76,000. She is 0 for 3 this year, with starts in allowance and high-priced claiming company at Tampa Bay and Prairie Meadows.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - From the death of leading rider Isiah Sala to the 14-race win streak by rider Tim Moccasin, the 2001 meeting at Marquis Downs will not soon be forgotten.

Sala, a 23-year-old native of New Jersey, was enjoying great success in his first year here and was 12 wins ahead of his closest rival when the unthinkable occurred.

On Aug. 17 Sala's mount, Twilight Deputy, clipped heels and Sala was thrown to the track. He was pronounced dead from massive head injuries about six hours later, without regaining consciousness.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - For a horse that was merely an afterthought, Fancy As has turned out to be much better than "just a horse to fill the van."

Red Smith, part-owner and trainer of Fancy As, was left with an open slot in his six-horse trailer when he was heading home from racing in Manitoba in 1999. Not wanting to go home without a full load, Smith made a last-minute decision to bid $3,200 on a good looking Manitoba bred colt by Dignitas in the Manitoba yearling sale.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A strong field of 11 3-year-olds lines up in Saturday's $50,000-added Half Moon Bay Stakes at Bay Meadows. The 1 1/16-mile turf race is the final local prep for the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Derby, which will be run at nine furlongs over the turf on Nov. 4.

Four stakes winners are in the Half Moon Bay: Sir Alfred, winner of the Grade 3 Ascot Handicap; Takin It Deep, victorious in the $200,000 California Derby; Jade Green, winner of the Tacoma Stakes at Emerald; and I'madrifter, who won the Gold Rush Stakes earlier this year.