INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Battle-tested at Santa Anita and Churchill Downs earlier this spring, Separata will be difficult to oppose in Sunday's $75,000 Great Lady M. Handicap at Hollywood Park.

A 5-year-old Chilean-bred mare, Separata won the Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs in her last start on May 3, setting a course record of 55.92 seconds for five furlongs. That victory, combined with her second to Go Go in the Las Cienegas Handicap on April 8, will make her a short-priced favorite in the Great Lady M., run over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

AUBURN, Wash. - A bulky field of 11 juvenile fillies, including a stable coupling, will square off in Sunday's $35,000 Pierce County Stakes, a five-furlong race at Emerald Downs.

CALGARY, Alberta - Trainer R.K. "Red" Smith could not topple Scotman with a two-horse entry in the May 26 Teeworth Plate.

So Smith, the runaway leader in the trainer's standings, is adding a third runner in hopes of capturing Sunday's Herald Gold Plate at Stampede Park.

The $50,000 race drew six entrants, and Smith will send out Three Johns, Run Joey Run, and Tyko Tykoon in the meet's premier race for older horses.

Despite Smith's strong hand, Scotman will command plenty of respect, following his half-length victory over Run Joey Run in the Teeworth.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Older stakes horses get to stretch out for the first time this season in the 1 1/16-mile John Longden 6,000 on Sunday at Hastings Park. With a plethora of speed in the race, it couldn't set up any better for late-running Ball and Chain.

Ball and Chain, a 4-year-old, was sent off as the favorite in the Victoria Day on May 21. The Victoria Day is listed at 6 1/2 furlongs, but with Galavant forcing him wide the whole way, Ball and Chain probably ran closer to seven furlongs while finishing a fast-closing third to King Jeremy.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The perception that Bienamado is the best grass horse in the country has chased no one from the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park, where eight others will try to knock him off in a $350,000 turf race at 1 1/4 miles.

The Whittingham is the centerpiece of an appealing 10-race card that includes the Grade 2 Californian, which has attracted Hollywood Gold Cup candidates, and a $75,000 turf sprint stakes featuring Chilean speedster Separata. First post Sunday is noon.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Skimming and Aptitude offer bettors an ideal entry in Sunday's $500,000 Californian at Hollywood Park.

The two horses compliment each other, giving owner Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bobby Frankel a powerful combination. If one falters, the other may be up to the task.

Skimming, a front-runner, is making his second start of the year, having finished second to Futural in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on May 5. He led throughout the $1 million Pacific Classic last August and will try the same tactic in the Grade 2 Californian, run over 1 1/8 miles.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Quiet Resolve, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, will make his first local start of the year Sunday at Woodbine in the $341,400, 1 1/8-mile King Edward Breeders' Cup Handicap.

The Grade 2 turf event has also lured New York shipper Spindrift, a Bill Mott-trained runner who is returning from an extended layoff.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Whether he's celebrating his first Belmont Stakes victory or coming to grips with another Belmont defeat, trainer Nick Zito has $150,000 worth of reasons to get out of bed Sunday morning.

ELMONT, N.Y. ? Trainer John Ward dropped a pre-Belmont Stakes bomb Friday afternoon when Forest Secrets, the least accomplished filly in a strong field of eight, gutted out a neck victory in the Grade 1 $200,000 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park.

Victory Ride, the 7-5 favorite who had done only slightly more than Forest Secrets but was more brilliant in doing so, finished second after making the lead inside the sixteenth pole. She finished a neck in front of the late-running Real Cozzy.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - There's not much doubt that Rampaging Alf can sprint; he was named champion sprinter in British Columbia last year. But in Sunday's John Longden 6000 he will be trying to carry his speed 1 1/16 miles.

It won't be an easy task, with speedsters Lord Nelson and King Jeremy also in the race.