DEL MAR, Calif. - The day after Azeri's overpowering victory in the Clement Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar, trainer Laura de Seroux was mulling over the three options she has between now and the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on Oct. 26.

Ideally, de Seroux would like to race Azeri one more time, but since the two races most appropriate for Azeri - the Lady's Secret at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, or the Ruffian at Belmont Park - are handicaps, de Seroux could train Azeri up to the Distaff, though that is the least palatable option for her.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The first thing Jim Ghidella, director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California for Northern California, did after his organization approved Bay Meadows's and Golden Gate Fields's stakes schedule and purse structure was buy a filly at the Del Mar yearling sale.

"I'm very optimistic about racing," Ghidella said. "I have a real feeling we've done a good thing for northern California. This is probably the best thing for Northern California since I've been associated with the TOC."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Portcullis met his main objective when he captured the Breeders' Stakes, the third leg of Canada's Triple Crown, at Woodbine last Saturday.

Now Portcullis, a gelding owned by Sam-Son Farm and trained by Mark Frostad, may get a well-deserved rest rather than carrying on through the fall turf stakes program here. Portcullis won his seasonal bow at Fair Grounds Jan. 19 and has run at least once in each succeeding month.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - With two and a half weeks remaining in the meet, Eibar Coa looks to be on his way to a second consecutive riding title at Monmouth. With the prospect of another riding title tacked on to the ones he won on the south Florida circuit before arriving at Monmouth, Coa has begun looking to the future.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Despite a $250,000 session topper, Sunday's first night of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Del Mar Yearling Sale failed to keep pace with a record sale in 2001.

On Sunday evening at the Del Mar HorsePark, 51 yearlings sold for $2,431,500, an average of $47,676. The average price was down 11 percent from the opening night of the 2001 sale, but higher than the overall 2001 average of $43,663, a record.

Last year, the average price dropped from $52,918 from the first session to $35,418 on the second night.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In what amounted to a $120,000 paid public workout, 2-5 favorite Orientate ($2.90) rolled to a front-running, two-length victory in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Saratoga.

Say Florida Sandy, the all-time richest New York-bred, chased Orientate around the track and finished second, three lengths ahead of longshot Multiple Choice. Late Carson, Beau's Town and Texas Glitter completed the order of finish.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Humorous Lady ($3) broke sharply and built a four-length lead in the opening quarter mile as she won the $50,660 Mid-Peninsula Stakes by eight lengths at the Bay Meadows Fair on Sunday.

Coming off a wire-to-wire victory by a nose in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar, Humorous Lady was never challenged as she defeated Her Emminence in the 5.5-furlong race. The winning time was 1:02.72.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Laura de Seroux has carefully spaced the races of Azeri as she marches toward the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and the brilliant filly continued to thrive under that management by strolling to her fifth straight victory, in Sunday's $300,000 at Del Mar.

Azeri breezed home two lengths in front of 23-1 shot Angel Gift, but the margin could have been far greater had jockey Mike Smith loosened his grip on the reins. There was no need. There are bigger prizes to hunt down the road. This was a paid workout.

Bossier City, La. - Making his first start for leading trainer Cole Norman, Comic Truth pounced on the early leaders late in the turn and drew off impressively down the lane to win Sunday's Pioneer Stakes. Crowned King turned a mild rally well out in the strip and outfinished Aledo Pass for the place spot. Heavy favorite Mighty Merlin dueled for the lead for a half mile and faded through the stretch to report home last in the field of six 2-year-olds.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - American Freedom has alternated between dirt and turf, handling each with success, and on Sunday it was his grass form that secured his first stakes victory in the $50,000 Lincroft Handicap for statebreds and fourth consecutive win this meet.