AUBURN, Wash. - While Stryker Phd has been one of the fastest horses at Emerald Downs in recent memory, posting Beyer Speed Figures of 96 and 97 in his past two starts, it's also true that the late-running 4-year-old has never won a race at his home track. A hard-luck second in four consecutive stakes appearances, Stryker Phd will try to kick down the door Sunday as the likely favorite in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – This past spring, trainer Jonas Gibson moved his stable back to his home track of Louisiana Downs for the first time since 2007. It’s been the right call for the barn.

Gibson, a 31-year-old from Benton, La., is enjoying arguably the best meet of his young career. He ranked fifth in the local standings through Thursday, with 23 wins from 82 starters. In addition, Gibson’s strike rate of 28 percent is one of the highest win percentages among trainers at Louisiana Downs. He is returning to this region after having raced at Delaware Park, among other tracks.

AUBURN, Wash. – While the race for horse-of-the-meeting honors at Emerald Downs has narrowed to two standout contenders – Herbie D, who captured his only two local starts in brilliant fashion, and the undefeated 3-year-old filly Stopshoppingdebbie – Chu and You could make a compelling case for consideration with a victory Sunday in the $50,000 Northwest Farms Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

The Northwest Farms is one of six $50,000 stakes on Washington Cup Day, all for statebreds, highlighted by the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Though she was a Grade 1 winner around two turns at age 3, Dance Card could have a different agenda as she prepares for a limited 4-year-old campaign.

Eric Halstrom will leave his position as vice president and general manager for racing at Fair Grounds Racecourse and Slots on Oct. 1, Halstrom confirmed Friday morning.

Halstrom has worked at Fair Grounds in a similar capacity since 2008. He said he was leaving the job in New Orleans “for personal and family reasons.”

Fair Grounds president Tim Bryant said the track was in the early stages of finding a replacement for Halstrom, with the track’s 2013-14 meet scheduled to start Nov. 21.

Alsvid displayed significant talent last year at 3, when he defeated older horses in a pair of rich sprint stakes. But he took his game to a whole new level in his most recent start, when he put up a Beyer Speed Figure of 109 for a 16-length win in an optional claimer.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Christophe Clement won’t have time to enjoy the first Sunday of the NFL season as he will be the busiest trainer at Belmont Park, saddling runners in five of the 10 races on the card.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The board of directors of the Woodbine Entertainment Group has undergone a major reshuffling as David Willmot, Mark Frostad, and Bill Graham did not stand for re-election.

Blake Tohana was voted in as a new director and also was appointed as a member of the group’s audit committee.

The changes were announced in a press release early Friday afternoon.

The 3-year-old Silver Tongued will challenge older Ohio-breds and race beyond 1 1/16 miles for the first time in Sunday’s $50,000 Governor’s Buckeye Cup at Thistledown.

Silver Tongued is 3 for 4 locally. He won the $75,000 Best of Ohio J.W.Galbreath on his way to being named Ohio 2-year-old colt of the year last October. This year, he won the $75,000 Cleveland Gold Cup going 1 1/8 miles. In his most recent local outing, he finished sixth in the Ohio Derby.