Rock Hard '06 -- Saint Liam missed last year's Breeders' Cup due to a setback but returned at five to win four Grade 1 events this season, capping a likely Horse of the Year campaign with one-length score in the Classic (G1) at Belmont Park. Here's hoping that ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) has the opportunity to repeat history in 2006. His status is still up in the air pending further evaluation, but the sky's the limit if the massive dark bay is sound enough to make it back to the races. Unbeaten in 2005, the Richard Mandella-trained colt reeled off victories in the Malibu S. (G1) (late December), Strub S. (G2) and Santa Anita H. (G1) prior to winning the Goodwood Breeders' Cup S. (G2) off a near seven-month layoff. A foot problem knocked him out of the Breeders' Cup, so Rock Hard Ten will have to shoot for North America's richest prize at age five, like Saint Liam, if he returns to the races.

Consistency -- After being roundly criticized for controversial decisions from stewards during the Del Mar meet, the California Horse Racing Board changed their policy and now has the stewards explain themselves to the crowd. Bravo! Last week at Hollywood Park, two separate incidents (Wednesday and Saturday) occurred that had no impact upon the result of the race and both times the stewards allowed the order of finish to stand. That's a principle that should guide officials in Thoroughbred racing, and we're seeing more consistency from stewards in Southern California now that they are more accountable.

Big fields - Six of Wednesday's 10 races at Churchill Downs drew overflow fields and there is no shortage of entries for the Fall Meet so far in Louisville, Kentucky. The average winning odds are 7.30-1, and the average exotics payoffs are all extremely healthy. I wish they offered the 10-cent superfecta, but Churchill still has the best wagering fare in the country.

Lakeman -- Andrew Lakeman moved his tack to the United States from England this year and arrived with the reputation of being a capable turf rider. Trainer Allen Jerkens took the journeyman under his wing this summer, enabling the rider to win his first race at Saratoga, and gave Lakeman the call on SAINT DAIMON (Saint Ballado) in Saturday's Huntington S. at Aqueduct. Lakeman had won only four of 50 starts this year entering the six-furlong sprint, but he rode the two-year-old like an accomplished professional, settling his mount into an inside stalking position before advancing through a narrow opening along the rail at the head of the stretch. He could have played it safe by attempting to swing out, but Lakeman rode aggressively through tight quarters. His heady ride helped produce a 3 3/4-length win aboard the promising colt.

Davila - John Davila Jr. notched his 2,000th career win last Friday at Finger Lakes and is on pace to win his fourth straight, and sixth overall, riding title at the Farmington, New York, track. A big fish in a small pond, the 42-year-old native of Puerto Rico counts champion sprinter Not Surprising among the best horses he's ridden.