STICKNEY, Ill. - Welcome to the entry-level allowance, a point of convergence for horses on the way up and horses struggling to stay out of the claiming ranks. The confluence of various types of unproven stock can produce appealing betting situations - or baffle handicappers.

Monday's eighth race at Hawthorne is just such a heat, and because it is to be run on turf, it has drawn a large field of nine. For fillies and mares at about one mile, the race is the eighth race on Hawthorne's nine-race program.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Richard Migliore capped off a big week by winning Saturday's $200,000 Shuvee at Belmont Park aboard Apple of Kent. On Friday, the rider captured the $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico on Two Item Limit.

It was Migliore's fourth Shuvee win.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Win City overcame traffic problems at Woodbine Saturday to take the $136,000 Marine Stakes, a prep for the June 24 Queen's Plate.

Win City raced four lengths off Runnin West, who set an honest pace and was tracked by New York invader High Commissioner, the 4-5 favorite in the 1 1/16 mile race for 3-year-olds.

High Commissioner assumed command heading into the far turn, as Win City moved into contention. Win City lacked a clear path midway on the turn and was steadied by jockey Constant Montpellier, who angled him wide at the quarter pole.

Megans Bluff easily won the Grade 3, $100,000 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs Saturday. Megans Bluff rated behind the pace set by Trip, then blew past at the top of the stretch and won by 2 1/4 lengths.

The longshot Sitka made a late run in midtrack to finish second, with Good Game third. Megans Bluff, a narrow second choice to Trip, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.88 on a turf course upgraded from yielding to good in the middle of Churchill's program.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Fertile dragged jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. into the winner's circle of Saturday's Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Running in fourth-place on the turn of the five-furlong race, Fertile rapidly jumped into contention after Pincay urged her on the turn. Pincay had to do as much steering as riding entering the stretch.

Once settled, Fertile caught Georgia's Storm in early stretch and won comfortably by 3 1/2 lengths, finishing five furlongs in 57.95 seconds.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Duckhorn bounced back from an abysmal race last month and upset the Grade 2 $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup on Saturday, setting a fast pace and holding off a late run by Lido Palace.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Treasureinmyhand will try to extend her unbeaten streak to four races Monday at Woodbine, when she will be the heavy favorite in the Grade 1, $274,500 Selene Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies has also lured a pair of American shippers, Transcendental and Giving Noreen, along with four other locals.

STICKNEY, Ill. - If you were privy to Thoroughbred gossip a couple of years ago, you might recall the name A'fire. Michael Tabor owned the horse, Pat Byrne trained him. The gossip said he could run.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Ispymytie, winner of five of six starts here, is the 121-pound highweight in Monday's $27,500 Victoria Day Stakes.

The 5 1/2-furlong Victoria Day for fillies and mares, 3 and up, launches the 2001 stakes schedule at Assiniboia Downs.

Ispymytie, who has earned $79,070 of her $107,718 lifetime total here, failed to hit the board in two starts at Stampede Park this spring but will be the probable favorite in the Victoria Day. Alan Cuthbertson will ride.

HIALEAH, Fla. - Hialeah Park, which has played host to the greats of Thoroughbred racing for more than three-quarters of a century, appears destined to close its doors forever following the conclusion of the 2001 meeting Tuesday.

Hialeah's last realistic chance at survival ended on May 4, when the Florida Legislature adjourned its 2001 session without extending the statute that regulates racing dates. The law expires on June 30.