NEW ORLEANS - Just before 9:30 on Friday morning at Fair Grounds, Ten Most Wanted walked out of a Fair Grounds barn and onto the racetrack, where he jogged one easy circuit. As he bounced the wrong way down the backstretch, the heads of exercise riders waiting along the outside fence on other horses swiveled to follow him.

There were good reasons why many thought Ten Most Wanted could win the Kentucky Derby last May and the Breeders' Cup Classic last October, one of them being the stunning appearance he makes in the morning.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A year ago, trainers Jenine Sahadi and Jim Cassidy finished one-two in the La Habra Stakes with Luvah Girl and Katdogawn.

Sunday at Santa Anita, the two stables are back in the $100,000 La Habra, a race for 3-year-olds over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. This year, both trainers have brought reinforcements.

Sahadi starts the entry of .

ARCADIA, Calif. - The lucrative Dubai World Cup program at Nad Al Sheba on March 27 is taking its toll on some of the major stakes at Santa Anita next weekend, including Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap and Sunday's $150,000 San Carlos Handicap.

Domestic Dispute and During, the first two finishers in the Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds on Feb. 7, are likely to pass the Big Cap in favor of starts in Dubai. Domestic Dispute will run in the $6 million Dubai World Cup, and During is being prepared for the $1 million Godolphin Mile.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - William Connery Jr. held a narrow lead Friday after the first day of Gulfstream Park's Turf-Vivor III handicapping contest.

Connery built his bankroll to $83.40, just ahead of John DeVincenzo's $80. Robert Gianquitti was next with $79.60.

As the leader after the first day, Connery won $2,000. DeVincenzo earned $1,500 while Gianquitti banked $1,000. There are 125 handicappers vying for a first-place prize of $100,000.

Del Mar has increased the value of three major races for its 43-day 2004 meeting, which runs from July 21 to Sept. 8. The meet will offer record stakes purses of $6,325,000.

The largest increase is for the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, to be run Sept. 6 at 1 1/8 miles on turf with a purse of $400,000 - a rise of $100,000 from recent years.

SUNLAND PARK, N. M. - A mixed bag of eleven horses is entered for Sunday's $100,000-added , the final local prep for the $500,000 WinStar Derby on March 28, and with a short run into the first turn, luck of the draw may be the deciding factor.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Danieltown, a 16-length winner the last time he raced over six furlongs, returns to that distance Sunday in the seventh race at Oaklawn Park.

Restricted to 3-year-olds, the $60,000 optional claimer also drew the promising South Africa, who was entered in the $100,000 Southwest here Saturday.

Danieltown earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for his double-digit romp in a one-other-than allowance Jan. 24. He stretched out to a mile for his last start, in the $50,000 WEBN at Turfway Park, and dueled early before finishing seventh.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For the fifth straight day, the pick six was not hit Friday at Gulfstream Park. There will be a pick-six carryover of $170,985 heading into Saturday's 12-race card.

The sequence, which will include races 7-12, will include both Grade 3, $100,000 turf stakes races on the card: the Herecomesthebride for 3-year-old fillies and The Very One Handicap for older fillies and mares. Both races drew overflow fields as did the 10th, a second-level allowance race for 4-year-olds and up.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - With a superior Beyer Speed Figure at 2, a two-turn stakes win by January of his 3-year-old year, and a perfect race record, it is difficult to get past Smarty Jones in the $100,000 at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

That's not to say the field is lacking in quality. There are 10 promising colts, including Pro Prado, Proper Prado, Wildcat Shoes, Two Down Automatic, and South Africa in the one-mile race that starts the march to the $1 million Arkansas Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Anywhere you turn, there are questions to be answered regarding the leading contenders in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 The Very One Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

come into The Very One off victories, but none of the three has raced beyond 1 1/8 miles. Savedbythelight is a proven long-distance runner, but trainer Rick Violette isn't sure she is a true turf horse. Ocean Silk, another proven route horse, may need a race. She has been idle since Oct. 17.