OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Last January, it appeared as though Crossing Point had started his 6-year-old season on a good note with a front-running victory in the Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct.

ALBANY, Calif. - Course and distance specialist Santano is the one to catch and beat in Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $32,000 claimer at 4 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Santano has been a rocket ship in these abbreviated turf sprints, showing the ability to run the opening quarter-mile in 21 seconds or faster. He has won 5 of 8 starts over the Golden Gate turf course and was second in his other three starts. He is 6 for 10 at the distance with three second-place finishes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Oaklawn Park, which begins a 55-day meeting Friday, has become a hot spot for 3-year-olds this year, with a richer program of stakes, higher daily purses, and a $5 million bonus tied into the Arkansas Derby. These incentives have helped lure 33 new stables to Oaklawn and such promising 3-year-olds as Tiger Hunt, Mr. Jester, Smarty Jones, Proper Prado, and Wildcat Shoes.

ARCADIA, Calif. - One day after firing Nick Cosato as his agent, jockey Patrick Valenzuela had yet to name a replacement, though it appeared Bob Meldahl was the front-runner.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The odds just got better that Buckram Oak Farm will be represented on Kentucky Derby weekend by a 3-year-old by Unbridled's Song.

That's because even if Eurosilver - the Unbridled's Song colt who is one of the early Derby favorites for the May 1 Derby at Churchill Downs - somehow fails to make it to the Derby, the farm still might have an Unbridled's Song filly who could run a day earlier in the Kentucky Oaks.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After finishing a good third behind odds-on favorite Buju on opening day, Belichick would have been among the favorites for Thursday's $34,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park regardless of the outcome of Sunday's AFC championship game.

But now that his namesake, coach Bill Belichick, has led the New England Patriots to their second Super Bowl appearance in the last three years, it is likely Belichick the horse will receive a little additional attention in Thursday's main event.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It only seems like 19 years since Sarava won the Belmont Stakes - it's actually been 19 months. But in that time, Sarava has changed trainers, switched coasts, made one desultory start, and survived a serious bout with colic.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Pat Reynolds will give Peeping Tom another chance to prove that Father Time hasn't caught up to the Grade 1-winning gelding when he sends him out in Saturday's $75,000 Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct.

The 7-year-old Peeping Tom, who has banked more than $1.2 million since being claimed for $40,000 by Flatbird Stable nearly four years ago, has lost his last three starts, including an optional claimer here on Jan. 7. He finished third that day behind the razor-sharp Spooky Mulder, who is also likely to run in the six-furlong Paumonok.

California and Florida had their turn last weekend. Now, it is time to see what Fair Grounds has in the way of 3-year-old stakes horses.

Sometimes, very late at night, a horse trainer might lie awake imagining a barn full of Mr. Eds. Yes, the constant chatter from stalls might include an endless litany of complaints and requests. But how great would it be to have a horse actually tell you what hurt, how things were feeling out there on the racetrack?

Take . His trainer, Hal Wiggins, could tell Rapid Proof was losing his form last summer. Also, there was the issue of why Rapid Proof kept running up to horses in the stretch of his races, but not going past them.