Jockey Travis Dunkelberger, the nation's leader rider in wins by a narrow margin, broke his collarbone Wednesday night in the seventh race at Charles Town and is expected to be sidelined for at least four to six weeks.

On Thursday, Dunkelberger, 24, said his mount, Southern Trail, stumbled and broke his leg, tossing the rider to the ground near the sixteenth pole.

Dunkelberger said he was scheduled to meet with a doctor Friday morning to see if the break required surgery.

"In my opinion it probably will need [surgery] because it's separated," Dunkelberger said.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Paga, a filly from Argentina, and jockey Mike Smith earned their first stakes win of 2001 in California in Wednesday's restricted $81,175 Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar.

Paga ($7.60) ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.06, holding off a late rally from La Ronge. A 4-year-old, Paga was a multiple stakes winner in Argentina last year.

Smith, a two-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation's top jockey, won his first stakes since relocating from the East in May.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - First of all, John's Call doesn't know he's 10 years old.

As far as he's concerned, time passes in big chunks, alternating between the good life on the farm and such competitive diversions as the Breeders' Cup Turf, the Japan Cup, and the Sword Dancer Handicap, which will bear his stamp again on Saturday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The success of the Saratoga meet for trainer Christophe Clement depends on what happens this weekend.

Clement will have runners in all three graded stakes beginning with Friday's $100,000 Glens Falls Handicap when he sends out the uncoupled entry of Aiglonne and New Assembly. Clement will also be in action in Saturday's Grade 1 Sword Dancer with Honor Glide and/or Craigsteel and in Sunday's Grade 3 Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup with Penny's Gold.

AUBURN, Wash. - Seven 3-year-old $12,500 claimers will do battle in Friday's six-furlong feature at Emerald Downs.

Alnaab the Gold and Pazhalsta are logical contenders, as they finished second and fourth, respectively, while racing for a slightly higher tag on June 20. The sharp sprinter High Tailing won that race in a quick 1:10.60 for six furlongs, but Alnaab the Gold closed to be beaten less than a length and Pazhalsta held fourth, beaten just over two lengths after pressing the pace throughout.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Another small field will go to post for a stakes race at Northlands Park Friday, as the $30,000 Mademoiselle has only four horses, and betting will be limited to win and exactor.

The morning-line favorite, Northern Neechitoo, looks to rebound after a rough trip in her last race, the John Patrick Memorial Handicap here July 21. Northern Neechitoo finished fifth, 5 1/4 lengths behind Crimson Hue, after breaking in the air and hitting the starting gate.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Strike Smartly has yet to run to his regal breeding, and he probably never will, but he has evolved into a useful turf runner this year and should be favored in Friday's Woodbine feature, an $80,000 optional claimer on the grass.

Strike Smartly, a son of the legendary Mr. Prospector, is a full brother to Dance Smartly - Canada's horse of the year in 1991 - and Grade 1 winner Smart Strike. Dance Smartly won the '91 Plate and has produced two Plate winners, Scatter the Gold and Dancethruthedawn.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Can a sprinter from Germany get a two-turn mile in California?

The question applies to Abidjar on Friday, when he makes his U.S. debut in the $64,000 Relaunch Stakes at Del Mar. Eight 3-year-olds entered the mile turf race, which Walkslikeaduck used last year as a prep for his upset in the Del Mar Derby.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - They are not quite good enough to run for $400,000 in the Grade 1 Secretariat next weekend, but the field of eight 3-year-old turf runners entered in the Awad Stakes is quite good indeed for an otherwise everyday Friday program at Arlington.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Secret Status, who was scratched from the Grade 1 Go for Wand Handicap after injuring herself in the starting gate, is scheduled to return to action Friday in a classified allowance race at Saratoga.

The nine-furlong race drew a solid field, including Princess Ellen, Search Party, and People's Princess. The connections of both Secret Status and Princess Ellen are hoping to use Friday's race as a prep for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Handicap here on Aug. 24.