DEL MAR, Calif. – Masochistic, who tested positive for a tranquilizer when fifth in his career debut in March at Santa Anita and has since won consecutive starts, faces his toughest career test in an optional claimer at seven furlongs in Saturday’s fourth race.

Trained by A.C. Avila, the 4-year-old Masochistic beat maidens by 14 lengths over six furlongs May 3 at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and won an optional claimer for California-breds here at 6 1/2 furlongs July 31.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Texas Red is a candidate for the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes for 2-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita after winning a one-mile maiden race in his third career start Wednesday.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for his brother, Keith, Texas Red ($8) closed from eighth in a field of 10 to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:37.91. Texas Red rallied on the inside to take the lead in the final furlong, pulling away from the pacesetter, Secreto Primero.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It may be more for him than the horse, but trainer Jimmy Jerkens likes to do a little more with a horse than simply gallop him two days out from a race.

So, despite miserable conditions Thursday morning at Saratoga, Jerkens had Jim Dandy Stakes winner Wicked Strong blow out three furlongs in 38.69 seconds over a sloppy Oklahoma training track in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes.

DEL MAR, Calif. – California Chrome likely will make his next start Sept. 20 in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, trainer Art Sherman said Thursday.

“The money is too good,” he said.

In addition to the purse, the winning owner and trainer of all three Triple Crown races, the Haskell, and Travers get a $50,000 bonus per race for just showing up. Sherman and California Chrome's owners therefore would each earn $100,000 when the horse leaves the starting gate.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Shared Belief has made his living as the outsider. He did not run in last year’s Breeders’ Cup, but it mattered not when he completed an unbeaten campaign with a runaway victory weeks later in the CashCall Futurity, propelling him to the Eclipse Award as champion male 2-year-old.

Shared Belief missed the Triple Crown this spring owing to foot problems, yet has come back so strongly in two starts this year that he is ranked as one of the top 3-year-olds in the country.

AUBURN, Wash. - Stryker Phd drew post 9 and was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite Wednesday for Sunday's Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile. In keeping with recent history, Emerald Downs's signature race attracted a full field of 12. It will go as race 7 on a card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific. Post time for the Mile is 5:01.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill – The Pizza Man came out of his win in the $400,000 American St. Leger Stakes last Saturday in good shape and is likely to make his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, according to Rich Papiese, who bred and owns The Pizza Man with his wife, Karen.

Papiese and trainer Roger Brueggemann could have a second Breeders’ Cup starter as well, with Work All Week being pointed to the BC Sprint, Papiese said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Multiple Grade 1 winner On Fire Baby remains on target for the Sept. 6 Locust Grove on opening weekend of the 12-day September meet at Churchill, trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said this week.

Unraced since finishing fifth as the favorite in the June 14 Fleur de Lis at Churchill, On Fire Baby has been breezing about every 10 days. “Her next one will be [Aug.] 26 or 27,” said Hartlage. “Everything’s real good with her right now.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In the winter, it wouldn’t have been hard to imagine trainer Shug McGaughey being a player in Saratoga’s Travers Stakes. Honor Code, coming off a Grade 2 Remsen victory last fall, was one of the more highly regarded 3-year-olds entering the year. Top Billing, on Jan. 25, looked good winning a first-level optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park.

With the 29-day Ellis Park meet entering its final two-week stretch, apprentice rider Juan Saez continues to pull away atop the jockeys’ standings. Saez, the 17-year-old younger brother of New York-based standout Luis Saez, entered Friday with 37 wins at the meet that began July 3, 16 more than his closest pursuer, Miguel Mena.

The Ellis trainers’ race is much closer. Buff Bradley entered Friday as the leader with eight wins, with Dale Romans (seven) and Ken McPeek (six) right behind.