DEL MAR, Calif. - War Emblem may be the leader of the 3-year-old division, but his first foray into the older horse division in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar has not scared away the challengers.

A record field of 14 was entered on Thursday for the richest race of this meeting, run over 1 1/4 miles. The other 13 will all be chasing War Emblem, who is expected to be a pace factor from the start as he was earlier this year when he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Haskell Invitational.

The previous record for field size was nine in 1994 and 1998.

DEL MAR, Calif. - There is a sense of permanence around the stable of Leonard Lavin's Glen Hill Farm not found often in racing. For 35 years, and through two generations, Lavin has employed a member of the Proctor family as a trainer or farm manager.

There is a desire to do well, of course, but also a desire to take the time to do it right. And this process has enabled Bonus Pack to emerge as a live longshot in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Raging Fever, one of the top older fillies in the country, and Mandy's Gold, a winner of her last four starts in stakes, including the Honorable Miss here on Aug. 2, meet for the first time since January in Sunday's $250,000 Ballerina Handicap.

Raging Fever was a two-length winner of the Grade 3 First Lady at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 18. Mandy's Gold, making her first start off a long layoff, finished third in the First Lady.

Don't count out Ramon Dominguez just yet.

When Dominguez sustained a fractured left wrist in a spill on July 24, his doctor projected he would need 10 to 12 weeks before he could resume riding again.

Now Dominguez is talking about getting back in the saddle well before the end of Delaware Park's meet on Nov. 17. He's also hopeful he still can finish the season as the meet's leading rider.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Continued revenue increases, the result of sweeping legislative changes in Massachusetts at the beginning of 2002, will allow Suffolk Downs to make a 10 percent daily average purse increase for its fall meeting, according to track officials.

The lowest-priced claiming horses will run for $6,200 - up from $4,600 in June of 2001. Maiden special weight and the highest allowance levels will see the biggest increases - $3,000 and $2,500 respectively - to $16,000 and $22,000.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Dublino has the distinction of being the only filly this year to finish in front of Megahertz in five turf stakes. The only trouble was, Dublino fouled Megahertz in deep stretch of the $500,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 6 and was disqualified from first to second for the interference.

On Saturday, those two meet for the second time and face five others in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Since the American Oaks, trainer Laura de Seroux has been eager for Dublino have a rematch against Megahertz.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - For a precious few seconds, Ron Brandenburg thought he had won the richest purse of his long training career.

But when the replay of last year's $100,000 Arlington Sprint Handicap was shown on television monitors throughout Arlington Park, Brandenburg had a sinking feeling that his stable star, Tic N Tin, had been beaten in the last jump by Bet on Sunshine.

Unfortunately for Brandenburg, he was right.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Gygistar heads into Saturday's $200,000 King's Bishop a perfect 4 for 4 this year.

Gygistar, the likely favorite, meets eight rivals in the Grade 1 King's Bishop for 3-year-olds on the Travers undercard.

Gygistar, who comes from the stakes-loaded stable of trainer Mark Hennig and owner Edward P. Evans, has won three stakes this year. Two of his wins came at seven furlongs, the distance of the King's Bishop. His other stakes victory was in the 1 1/16-mile Dwyer at Belmont Park on July 7.

After gutting out a neck victory in the nine-furlong Bernard Baruch Handicap four weeks ago, Del Mar Show cuts back to his preferred distance of 1 1/16 miles Saturday when he meets eight rivals in the $200,000, Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap.

Del Mar Show is 5 for 5 at the Fourstardave distance, including stakes wins at Gulfstream, Woodbine, and Hialeah

They'll come for the Governor's Handicap and stay for the mules. Or, is it the other way around?

On Saturday at Sacramento, four 3-year-olds and up meet in the $75,000 Governor's Handicap, by far the richest race of the day. But of more interest to many will be the 11th and final race, a mule race that matches legendary Black Ruby against seven others, including her arch-rival, Taz.