ALBANY, Calif. - Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature race marks the return of Rough R.N., who has not run since finishing second at1-5 on Feb. 28

A 4-year-old Cal-bred filly who has 3 victories and 2 seconds in 5 starts, Rough R.N. has 10 rivals in the six-furlong allowance race.

Trainer John F. Martin said Rough R.N. has not raced because of a minor injury.

"I thought she'd need six months off, but we took a little extra time because we wanted to do the right thing," said Martin, who claimed Rough R.N. for $25,000 from her winning debut.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - In the New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap for fillies and mares here Nov. 30, the first-, second-, and fourth-place finishers were 3-year-old fillies. Those three - Shemoveslikeaghost, Ghost Chatter, and Miss Trixie - meet again at Sunland Park in Friday's $125,000-added La Coneja Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong race for statebred 3-year-old fillies.

The Maryland Jockey Club has cut purses in its first condition book for 2004 by approximately 4 percent, citing financial difficulties brought on by declining revenue.

The purse cuts were $1,000 in each race with a total purse over $15,000, and $500 for any race with a total purse lower than $15,000, according to Lou Raffetto, the chief operating officer of the MJC. Raffetto said the cuts were "hardly noticeable."

ARCADIA, Calif. - It's both the curse and delight of racing that as soon as you do something, you are asked to do it again. This is the position trainer Richard Mandella finds himself in as the nation's 2-year-olds prepare to turn 3 and embark on the road to the spring classics.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - For the first time in 21 years, Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will not win a graded stakes in New York in 2003. In fact, his only stakes win on the New York Racing Association circuit this year came in February, when Boston Park won the ungraded Whirlaway Stakes.

The Lukas stable has an excellent chance to end the year on a positive note, however, when Quick Action, a 2-year-old colt who looks to be graded-stakes caliber, faces five rivals in Friday's $60,000 Maria's Mon, an overnight stakes race at six furlongs.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - They may be able to run the Gallant Fox Handicap without Coyote Lakes, but they won't run it without his trainer, Bruce Levine. When the $75,000 Gallant Fox is run at Aqueduct Saturday for the 65th time, Levine will aim for his fifth victory in the 13-furlong race when he saddles Patriot's Song.

Levine has won the last three runnings of the Gallant Fox with Coyote Lakes, who ran in the race each of the last five years. But infirmities and old age caught up with the gallant 9-year-old gelding, and Coyote Lakes has been retired.

With the exception of the annual Claiming Crown, a one-day extravaganza devoted to blue-collar horses, there are no opportunities for claimers to run for a $75,000 purse. That's essentially what is going to happen, however, Friday night at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Nine of the 10 older sprinters entered in the $75,000 Christmas Stakes have run for a tag this year, ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. The lone exception, Crossing Point, stands out as the favorite in the six-furlong race.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Shake You Down's speed and class proved too much for his six opponents Sunday, as he rolled to an easy 2 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $109,000 Gravesend Handicap before 4,264 at Aqueduct.

Way to the Top, who dueled early with Shake You Down, settled for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Gators N Bears. Peeping Tom, Papua, Black Silk, and Presidentialaffair completed the order of finish.

Sir Fidgity ($6.20) established himself as the top Illinois-bred 2-year-old of 2003, edging Persuaggle by a nose in the $118,575 Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity. Iron Rogue finished 5 1/4 lengths back in third.

Sir Fidgity, the favorite in the field of 11, stalked the early pace set by Jaguar Friend and advanced toward the lead turning for home. He wore down Persuaggle, who overtook the tiring pacesetters with a furlong to go.

Take the Plunge ($11.80), a 2-year-old homebred for trainer James Casey, scored his third consecutive stakes victory at Charles Town when he drew off to defeat even-money favorite Seeyouattheevent by two lengths in the $72,450 St. Nick Stakes. Take the Plunge, now 4 for 5 lifetime, covered the seven furlongs in 1:30.04.

In the $72,150 Snow White Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Foolishly ($12.40), trained by John Servis, held off fast-closing 39-1 shot Wild Bea by a head. Foolishly was timed in 1:30.23.