SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Thunder Blitz looks like the horse to beat in Wednesday's featured third-level allowance race at Saratoga. But with trainer Bobby Frankel having lost with his last 18 starters at the meet through Monday, handicappers may not want to take the short price.

Thunder Blitz has twice been a beaten favorite in this allowance condition, finishing third in a three-way photo behind Regal Sanction and Strive at Belmont on July 6 and second behind Puzzlement in the slop here on July 24. Puzzlement returned to win the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap.

DEL MAR, Calif. - This was Babe Ruth calling his shot, pointing to the outfield fence and then hitting a home run. This was Joe Namath predicting an upset victory for the Jets over the Colts in Super Bowl III.

It was back in January when Ron McAnally told Sid and Jenny Craig that he thought Candy Ride, whom they were negotiating to purchase in Argentina, could win the Pacific Classic. Seven months later, and one day after Candy Ride's dazzling, track-record victory in the Pacific Classic, McAnally took great satisfaction in seeing his grand plan come to fruition.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ten Most Wanted's victory in Saturday's Travers, the uncertain future of ailing dual-classic winner Funny Cide, and the difficult task the 3-year-olds face meeting a bumper crop of older horses this fall make for a muddled race for the Eclipse Award in the 3-year-old division.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher put three of his top 2-year-old colts through workouts on Monday morning and confirmed that two of the three will start in Saturday's Grade 1, $200,000 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga.

While Chapel Royal, the undefeated winner of the Sanford, was always being pointed to the Hopeful, he will be joined in the starting gate by Limehouse, the multiple stakes winner who suffered his first defeat when third in the Saratoga Special. Value Plus, an impressive maiden winner, will be held out until the Grade 1 Futurity at Belmont on Sept. 14.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Gary Stevens stood in the winner's circle after Candy Ride's win in Sunday's Pacific Classic at Del Mar, beaming like a proud coach.

Unable to take the mount because of a collapsed lung suffered in a spill in the Arlington Million on Aug. 16, Stevens resorted to the role of advisor to jockey Julie Krone.

Stevens had just watched his instructions result in a track record performance - 1:59.15 for 1 1/4 miles.

"It's the happiest I've been to not win one," Stevens said. "I feel like I rode him."

DEL MAR, Calif. - Hell Cat and Listen Indy were Triple Crown hopefuls when they were taken out of training last winter with injuries. Wednesday at Del Mar, they resume their careers in a $54,000 allowance race, and major stakes could be next.

Run over 6 1/2 furlongs, the allowance race has drawn nine entrants, several of whom are 3-year-olds.

Listen Indy has not started since finishing fourth in an allowance race in January at Santa Anita. Last fall, he finished third in the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita and seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Arlington Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The days of racing Sam Eye Am on the dirt have ended, according to trainer Keith Sirota.

The 4-year-old filly will run exclusively on grass, starting with Wednesday's featured $41,000 allowance at Monmouth Park.

"You can just see that she would be better on turf," said Sirota, who added the filly to his barn this year. "Her action is totally different on the grass than it is on the dirt."

Mervin Muniz, the longtime racing secretary at Fair Grounds, died Monday afternoon in New Orleans after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Muniz, 60, worked for 35 years at Fair Grounds after beginning his career at Evangeline Downs in 1966. He moved from the Fair Grounds publicity staff into the racing office in 1968 and stayed through this year, becoming a fixture at the racetrack.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jose Santos put the finishing touches on a stellar week and his Saratoga meet Monday by guiding Sixty Seconds to a head victory over Primetimevalentine in the Grade 3, $113,100 Glens Falls Handicap at Saratoga.

It was the third stakes win of the racing week for Santos, who took last Wednesday's Albany Handicap aboard Traffic Chief and last Friday's Grade 1 Personal Ensign Handicap aboard Passing Shot. Monday was Santos's last day at the meet, as Tuesday he was to begin a 10-day careless-riding suspension he incurred earlier in the meet.

CHICAGO - The grind of the Triple Crown can wear out a developing 3-year-old. Witness Funny Cide, who won the Kentucky Derby but finished a distant third in the Haskell and was a no-show last weekend for the Travers.

But the mere existence of the Triple Crown takes its toll on the 3-year-old population. Hundreds of young horses are the subject of dreams each spring, whether or not they are truly cut out to be Triple Crown horses. Take Ethan Man, who two springs ago won the Grade 3 Swale Stakes by three lengths, and became a Triple Crown hopeful.