DEL MAR, Calif. - The top two finishers in both Grade 1 grass stakes this past weekend at Del Mar all could be headed to Arlington Park for their next starts on Aug. 17, though those going to the Arlington Million are more likely than those eligible for the Beverly D.

Sarafan and Beat Hollow, who finished one-two in Sunday's Eddie Read Handicap, are both being pointed to the Arlington Million. Affluent and Golden Apples, who finished one-two in Saturday's John C. Mabee/Ramona Handicap for fillies and mares, could run in the Beverly D., though their status is less certain.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - A familiar face was missing at the running of the Ernest Finley Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair on Saturday.

Multiple stakes winner Today a Star, a 10-year-old gelding with $285,460 in career earnings, suffered a career-ending injury as he pulled up following his final work for the Finley.

Today a Star, third in his final start, the six-furlong Sam J. Whiting Handicap at Pleasanton on June 29, had finished third in the Ernest Finley last year.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Between them, trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas have won nine of the last 19 runnings of the Del Mar Futurity. When it comes to 2-year-olds at Del Mar, first Lukas, and now Baffert, have been the kings.

So it is completely understandable why trainer Jean-Pierre Dupuis said Monday morning he felt a little intimidated going up against runners from both Baffert and Lukas in Wednesday's $125,000 Graduation Stakes at Del Mar, but Dupuis has a promising runner in his own right in Expression, who could pull a mild upset in the 5 1/2-furlong race.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Tim Hills has become quite the traveler this summer.

Hills, the runaway leader in the Monmouth trainer standings with 21 wins, has not only been making waves in New Jersey but around the country, and even in Canada.

CHICAGO - Owner and trainer Louie Roussel thrives on winning races. Roussel might win with five horses in a row, but if the sixth one loses he is disappointed.

Don't mistake this for greed, smallness, or a lack of appreciation. Roussel's a generous man, quick to credit his rivals. He just loves to win, to get things right.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Before last Friday's $40,000 Edmonton Juvenile at Northlands Park, trainer Greg Tracy suggested Taiaslew should have no trouble navigating a distance of six furlongs for the first time in his young career.

Tracy's comments were right on the mark as Taiaslew ($2.90), a Washington-bred 2-year-old, easily handled the field for his first stakes win and the winner's share of $25,200.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Heyahohowdy, a rousing recent winner of the Passing Mood Stakes on turf, will go back to the main track in Wednesday's Eternal Search Stakes at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile event has lured just four other Ontario-sired 3-year-old-fillies, who will split purse a $127,135.

Heyahohowdy, making her third start in a month, could almost be viewed as a throwback to the days when the durable Eternal Search ran. Voted the champion older filly or mare in Canada in 1982-83, Eternal Search won 18 of 44 starts and banked $642,177 for owner Mel Lawson.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Numerous Times, winner of the Grade 1 Atto Mile at last September and Canada's champion turf horse of 2001, is through for the season.

"He has a chip in his left front ankle," said Bob Harvey, a principal of The Committee Stable, which owns Numerous Times.

Numerous Times was to undergo surgery Wednesday and have three or four months off before returning to light training.

"He'll be fine," said Harvey, who expects Numerous Times to be back at the races next spring.

Talk about a no-lose situation.

Trainer Sanna Neilson was in an enviable position at the Eclipse Awards ceremony in Miami last February. She was the trainer of all three finalists - Lord Zada, Pompeyo, and Praise the Prince - for top steeplechase horse of 2001.

There weren't any anxious moments that night for Neilson, who said the ultimate winner, Pompeyo, was the most deserving horse. But it was an emotional time because Pompeyo, a multiple stakes winner, was euthanized a month before the Eclipse ceremony over complications from a leg injury.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Favored De Goddaughter ($4), a wire-to-wire winner in her previous start, sat behind Rosanda and Pheiffer early before taking command in the stretch to win the $43,140 Luther Burbank Handicap on Sunday at the Sonoma County Fair.

De Goddaughter won the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares by one length over fast-closing Miss Terasita in 1:43.49.