OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Minutes before New York-bred Friends Lake pulled an upset in the $1 million Florida Derby, Well Fancied, among the top older New York-breds in training, did just what the Aqueduct crowd of 5,319 expected with his two-length win as the favorite in the $112,200 .

Gators N Bears finished second, a neck in front of Don Six in the 10-horse field. Black Silk, Peeping Tom, New York Hero, Unforgettable Max, Papua, Super Fuse, and Roaring Fever completed the order of finish in the seven-furlong race.

NEW ORLEANS - Almost all Merrill Scherer's calls this winter at Fair Grounds have been right on. He might have run Put Me In back a touch quickly in the Feb. 7 Pan Zareta Handicap, but the filly bounced back to her best form Saturday at Fair Grounds, scoring a decisive 1 1/2-length win in the $75,000 .

Her win gave Scherer 25 victories from 75 starters at the meet, an exceptional winter. Last season, Scherer started 72 horses and won with nine of them.

"I have no idea what it is," Scherer said. "I'm scared."

OLDSMAR, Fla. - The economics of owning and keeping a Thoroughbred racehorse these days are staggering. In recent years, the costs associated with the care of a horse - feed, tack, vet bills, etc. - have skyrocketed, running many owners out of the business.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Stately's Choice and Little Pursuit, the top two finishers in last month's Sweetheart Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, will be rematched at six furlongs in Monday's allowance feature for older fillies and mares at Portland Meadows.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano closed in on a record setting leading riding title at Turfway Friday evening, winning seven of the tracks 12 races. His seven victories established a single-day record, surpassing the mark of six wins, shared by several riders but first set by Kris Prather in 2001, according to track officials.

ARCADIA, Calif. - "It is time to start getting serious," trainer Richard Mandella said, which does not assume Action This Day will win the Grade 2 on Sunday. But it already is the middle of March. Action This Day and 10 other Santa Anita 3-year-olds must prove they belong on the Derby trail.

"All the b.s. stops right now, it's time to start marching," trainer Bob Baffert declared, hoping that his two horses - front-runner Odds On or Preachinatthebar - give Action This Day a battle in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Star Parade is expected to have the early lead when she attempts to win her third consecutive stakes in Sunday's $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita.

The success has trainer Darrell Vienna guardedly optimistic about Star Parade's chances in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita, her first start over 1 1/8 miles.

"Who can go with her? I hate when things look too good," Vienna said, jokingly.

Six fillies and mares are entered in the Santa Margarita, but none has the front-running ability of Star Parade.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year and the champion older female in the last two seasons, will make her first start since September in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 3, trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Friday.

Lukas had mentioned the Apple Blossom as a possibility in recent weeks and finalized plans after Azeri worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 on Thursday at Santa Anita.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Host, the Chilean-bred champion who was being pointed to the UAE Derby on March 27 in Dubai, will miss that race due to a bad blood test, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

"We pulled some blood on him and got those results back this afternoon, and I'm not satisfied with him," Pletcher said Friday. "I don't feel like it's the best thing for the horse to ship."

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Bobby Frankel has won graded stakes with the last four horses he has sent to Gulfstream Park. Owner Joe Allen is 5 for 5 at this meet, with three graded stakes victories. Allen's trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, is winning at a 52-percent clip this winter.

So it will be the immovable object versus the irresistible force when the Frankel-trained in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Rampart Handicap at Gulfstream Park.