BOSSIER CITY, La. - A win in the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs by Crowned King on Saturday would have great meaning for trainer Billy McKeever Jr., and his brother, David. Their father, longtime Louisiana resident and horse owner Billy McKeever Sr., died in December.

McKeever introduced his sons to racing, and had high hopes for Crowned King, who since his death has won three stakes as a 3-year-old, including the $125,000 Rebel at Oaklawn and the $200,000 USA Stakes at Lone Star Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The 3-year-old filly championship could be on the line in the Grade 1, $750,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 4.

Trainer Nick Zito confirmed on Wednesday that Bird Town, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn, would make her next start in the Beldame, a nine-furlong race for fillies and mares 3 and up. Trainer Barclay Tagg indicated earlier this week that Island Fashion, the Alabama winner, is also likely to run in the Beldame. Lady Tak, the Test winner, is also possible.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Bill Mott made a wise business decision last month when he chose to run Golden Sonata in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 22 rather than a $58,000 allowance race the day before.

Both races had five-horse fields, guaranteeing Golden Sonata would earn a check in either spot. Though she finished last in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, Golden Sonata earned $12,000.

"I'd do that again,'' Mott said. "She's a Mr. Prospector filly and we were trying to get her black type. She came out of it all right and still has her allowance conditions.''

ARCADIA, Calif. - He is neither as fast nor as imposing as Candy Ride or Mineshaft. But if Toccet makes it to the Breeders' Cup Classic, the East Coast-based 3-year-old will have something those older Classic rivals do not - a race over the Santa Anita track.

Toccet was scheduled to leave Maryland at 1 a.m. Thursday for Santa Anita, where he will run the Grade 2 Goodwood Handicap on Oct. 4. Toccet will not face a stellar cast in the Goodwood, but the strength of the field doesn't matter to his owner, Dan Borislow.

Trainer Scott Lake set a single-season record for wins at Delaware Park by saddling three winners on Wednesday's program.

First-time starter Charismatic Caller ($14.40), ridden by Roberto Alvarado, won the sixth race, a six-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds, giving Lake his record-setting 88th victory of the meet. Tim Ritchey held the previous record of 87, set in 2001.

Alvarado and Lake also combined to win the second race with 5-year-old sprinter Heroic Sight ($5.60), and the fifth race, taken off the turf, with 4-year-old filly Ideveter ($4.20).

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Continental Red, the hard-hitting California gelding poised to become a millionaire, will meet two similarly accomplished veterans from the East Saturday in the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf at Kentucky Downs.

Rochester, winner of the Grade 3 KC Turf last year for trainer Jonathan Sheppard, and Cetewayo, a multiple graded winner trained by Michael Dickinson, are the other major players in what is shaping up as an excellent renewal of the Turf.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Julie's Prize finished a strong third here last weekend in the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes. The ball is back in Summer Mis's court.

Summer Mis starts for the first time since July 26 when she runs Friday in Arlington's featured eighth race, a high-end allowance that drew a good field of nine entrants.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The long-neglected New Jersey breeding industry finally gets a day in the sun.

Monmouth Park hosts the first New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Saturday, an afternoon dedicated to New Jersey-bred racing. All 10 races, including three stakes, will showcase horses bred in the Garden State.

"It's a long time coming for a day celebrating New Jersey-breds," said Bob Kulina, vice president and general manager of Monmouth Park. "We're happy to be the host track for such a day and hope that it grows in stature in years to come."

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the winner of 26 straight training titles at Bay Meadows and 23 straight training titles at Golden Gate Fields, entered the week tied for fifth in the Bay Meadows trainer standings.

Hollendorfer had six wins, tied with Lloyd Mason. Brian Koriner and Art Sherman were tied for first with 10 wins each, Koriner's total coming from only 21 starters. Armando Lage and William E. Morey were tied for third with nine wins apiece.

Sunland Park in New Mexico will offer a record $20 million in total purses during its 2003-04 meeting, including 30 stakes worth at least $100,000 each. The 80-day Sunland Park meet begins Nov. 25 and ends April 11, 2004.