LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Tenpins never really had much of a chance to make the Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington Park last fall. The Michigan-bred star suffered a minor lung infection several weeks before the race and "we didn't want to make a wrong decision," said his trainer, Don Winfree.

But this fall, with Tenpins in good form and excellent health, the opportunity seemed ripe to try the $4 million Classic at Santa Anita, especially with the defections of such stars as Mineshaft, Candy Ride, and Empire Maker.

Jockey Hoogie Drexler had a big holiday weekend at Turf Paradise, winning with six straight mounts that included five consecutive races.

Drexler began his roll Sunday, winning with his only two mounts, Lady Mountbatten ($4.40) in the fifth race and Papila ($11.40) in the ninth and final race of the day. He then won Monday's first four races, with Iseeyoubaby ($4.80), Irvington ($6.60), Sheza Gladiator ($4.40) and Sir Rubi ($8.20).

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Beau's Town, who will be forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Sprint because of injury, will probably make his comeback in late February or early March, said his Louisiana Downs-based trainer, Cole Norman.

Beau's Town had a small bone chip removed from an ankle last Wednesday at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. He likely suffered the injury in the Grade 3 Phoenix on Oct. 3, when he stumbled at the start and finished eighth as the favorite in the race that was to be his final stop before the Sprint.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After a good work at Saratoga on Tuesday morning, Bossanova was declared on target by trainer Jim Bond for Saturday's $125,000 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park.

CHICAGO - By Eddie Martin's reckoning, he has ridden at 30 racetracks this season. The actual number is 19, but at some point you lose count. Martin's year began at Fair Grounds before he moved on to Lone Star and, later in the summer, Delaware.

"Delaware's ancient history," Martin said Monday afternoon. "We're a permanent fixture at Hawthorne right now."

MIAMI - If trainers Manny Azpurua and Marty Wolfson stick to their plans, Sir Oscar and Wynn Dot Comma are on a collision course.

After Saturday's Festival of the Sun set the stage, both Azpurua and Wolfson said they are pointing their unbeaten juveniles for the $150,000 Jack Price Stakes here on Nov. 15. The seven-furlong Jack Price - shaping up as Calder's race of the year - is one of six races on the $1 million Florida Million program.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Although she has been beaten more than a combined 30 lengths in stakes races at Fairplex in her past two starts, Midnight Velvet looms the one to beat in Thursday's Bay Meadows feature.

She and stablemate Amanda Marie have three rivals in a $40,000 starter allowance for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Midnight Velvet, owned by trainer Ed Moger Jr.'s top clients, Curt and Lila Lanning, runs at Bay Meadows for the first time since she finished second here in her debut, a $25,000 maiden claimer on May 10.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Brian Boru and Phoenix Reach, who finished first and third in the Group 1 St. Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 13, will renew their rivalry Sunday in the $1.5 million Canadian International.

As of Monday, a field of 10 was in the works for the Grade 1 Canadian International, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

Sunday's card also includes the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes, a $750,000, 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

Betty's Wish won her fourth consecutive race and her first graded stakes in Monday's $110,300 Pebbles Handicap at Belmont Park.

Betty's Wish, the 4-5 favorite under John Velazquez, was a 3 3/4-length winner over Mystery Itself in the Grade 3 turf race for 3-year-old fillies. It was another length back to Andover Lady in third in the seven-horse field.

Betty's Wish, the 116-pound highweight, stalked the early leaders, Little Miss Pamela and Boom Bah Yay, before powering away from the field in the stretch.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows will offer a special bonus for those competing in Saturday's final round of the qualifier for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA Handicapping Championship.

Not only are $5,000 in prize money and a trip to the 2004 national championship in Las Vegas for the top four finishers on the line, but also Bay Meadows will sweeten the pot with an additional $5,000 to any contestant who beats the selections of the "Petaluma Five."