STICKNEY, Ill. - Directly to the south are boilers and cooling towers belching steam into the frigid air. Directly to the north sits a massive white elephant, a dubious reminder of recent winters past. Around the deep and dusty main track go horses with heavy coats, silently content in their work while oblivious to a turf course still dead and brown.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The $75,000 Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Oaklawn Park is a transitional race for a number of colts in the seven-horse field. For some, the one-mile race will be their first start around two turns, and for others, it will tell if they belong on the road to the Grade 2, $500,000 Arkansas Derby April 12.

Well, this should be quite a test for Champali. Not only will Champali, a Glitterman colt, face one of the most accomplished opponents of his nascent career when he takes on Grey Comet in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, but he also will have the distinct disadvantage of starting from post 11 in the 1 1/16-mile race Saturday at Turfway Park.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Soes Bandit has yet to win a stakes race, but his connections dreamed big when he was entered in the Mass Cap last year. Eight months, 11 races, and two Suffolk victories later, the 7-year-old Soes Bandit appears poised to finally get a stakes win to go with all the dreams in Saturday's $35,000 Waquoit Stakes at Suffolk Downs.

A son of Buckaroo, Soes Bandit has won two of his last three starts, including his last race, a top-level allowance over several who are coming back in this 1 1/16-mile contest.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Irish Flyer carries top weight of 120 pounds to head a field of 10 in the $25,000 Orphan Kist Handicap for statebred fillies and mares at Fonner Park.

Trained by Terrell Hemmer, Irish Flyer failed to fire her best shot on opening weekend when she rallied to be third in the four-furlong Bold Accent Handicap. With a start under her belt, she should be poised for a return to the form that saw her win the Falls Amiss, Amadevil, and Bill Callihan handicaps at Lincoln and Columbus a year ago. Jerry Carkeek has the ride from post 1.

They packed them in for the $35,000 Willowbrook Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park, with a full field of 12 fillies and mares entered in the five-furlong turf race.

My Girl Lisa is a specialist at the distance. She has won four of her last five starts at five furlongs on turf, with her most recent such score coming in the $50,000 Crafty Drone at Hawthorne Race Course on Nov. 16. One start prior she won the $50,000 Lazer Show at five furlongs on turf at Arlington Park on Oct. 13.

Prized Amberpro, who has not lost in Louisiana-bred company since she was second in an allowance race last April, is the one to beat Saturday night when she moves back into the statebred ranks for the $100,000 Marshland Handicap at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After winning 5 of 7 lifetime starts sprinting, Elegant Designer tries something different in Saturday's $75,000-added Busher Stakes at Aqueduct.

Elegant Designer, who in her last start won the Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies at Sam Houston in December, makes her first start around two turns in the 1 1/16-mile Busher for 3-year-old fillies.

Elegant Designer is trained by Tony Dutrow. Her main rival in the seven-horse field is Busanda winner Cyber Secret, who is trained by Dutrow's brother, Richard Jr.

Cherokee's Boy has shown he can run fast. But not too far.

Foufa's Warrior has proven he can run far. But not too fast.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It is quite possible that without 93 seconds of brilliance at Aqueduct last November, Congaree would have had a different life this winter.

When he entered the gate for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Nov. 30, Congaree's career was in a rut. A loss would likely have led to retirement and a career at stud, a victory would justify leaving him in training.

Even his most dedicated backers could not have expected the performance that Congaree showed, a victory by 5 1/2 lengths.