OLDSMAR Fla. - Juan Umana's workday here Friday was a graphic example of how the highs and lows of racing can come and go in the blink of an eye.

Umana is a "steady Eddie" kind of guy, and he quietly goes about his business well enough to be among the leading riders at Tampa Bay Downs every year.

Umana got off to a good start in the fourth race Friday, as he stalked a pace duel aboard Gratefully for a half-mile, then swung outside and ran past the leaders to win by four lengths. Gratefully paid $5.40.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Away from the races since October, Redskin Warrior made a triumphant return in Saturday's $81,825 at Aqueduct.

Redskin Warrior, under Richard Migliore, was a five-length winner over Scary Bob in the six-furlong Best Turn. It was a nose back to Matsui in third in the seven-horse field of 3-year-olds. Smokume, the slight 2-1 favorite over Redskin Warrior, finished fourth and was followed under the wire by Abbondanza, Kiowa Prince, and Excellent Band.

Spectacular Lisa, confidently handled by Robby Albarado, dominated her six rivals Saturday in the $100,000 Chou Croute Handicap at Fair Grounds and gave trainer Mike Stidham his second straight win in the Chou Croute.

Always prominent after breaking from the outside post, Spectacular Lisa took over for Spirited Maiden in the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, then steadily drew clear to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths over California shipper Tropical Blossom. Princess Pelona finished another length back in third.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Private Emblem continued his pattern of running the biggest races of his career at Oaklawn Park when he drove to a 1 3/4-length win over favored Pie N Burger in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Essex Handicap before a crowd of 18,307.

Private Emblem ($19.40) is perfect at Oaklawn, winning all four races he has run over the track. His biggest win came in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby in 2002. He also won a division of the $100,000 Southwest in 2002 and an allowance in 2003.

Ask the Lord continued his dominance of route stakes races at Turfway Park, winning the $50,000 Dust Commander Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Doc D with a last-to-first rally.

The stakes victory was his second this winter at Turfway. In December, he won the Prairie Bayou by a head over Sonic West.

Undercover and jockey Mario Pino got away with some soft early fractions and led gate to wire in the $75,000, 1 1/8-mile Maryland Racing Media Handicap at Laurel Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Balto Star will be a deserving favorite in Sunday's $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap, but he is far from a cinch in a highly competitive renewal of the Grade 1 race run at 1 3/8 miles on turf.

In addition to spotting 4 to 8 pounds to seven rivals, the front-running and Kicken Kris, the Brazilian Group 1 winner Hard Buck, and in-form stretch-runners Request for Parole and Magic Mecke.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After a successful, albeit conservative, campaign last year, the Brazilian-bred Hard Buck makes his first foray into North American Grade 1 competition Sunday when he runs in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. - When Ema Bovary starts Sunday as the highweight in the Grade 3 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita, there are reasons why, after seven straight wins, her bubble may finally burst. It is not a reckless opinion.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Becoming a jockey was the only profession that interested Alex Bisono when he was growing up in Hempstead, N.Y.

"I have no idea what else I would do," he said on Friday morning at Santa Anita.

Bisono, 19, seems to have found his calling. He is off to an impressive start in his career, which began last fall at Bay Meadows.

Through Thursday, Bisono ranked 10th in the Santa Anita jockey standings with 12 wins. He will not challenge leading jockey Alex Solis, but still is elated at the progress he has made in recent months.