"Nothing's official," said Steve Kenley, of co-owner STD Racing, Monday morning, "but I'm sure we'll huddle up and make a decision before too long on what to do. It's nothing we feel we have to do in a day or two, but we'll huddle up and decide to do what's best for the horse." Lava Man, in a career that spanned 46 starts, earned $5.2 million with 17 wins.

In 2006 he became the first horse to sweep the three major handicap races in Southern California in the same year: Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. His last win was in the 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup, which gave Lava Man three consecutive victories in the event, matching Native Diver's three straight wins in the race.

Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Well Armed took the lead shortly after the start and the led the 10 horse field into the clubhouse turn and up the backstretch. Running in second was Global Hunter with Surf Cat and Tall Texan vying for third.

Well Armed, sent off as the 8-5 favorite, continued on the lead through the turn for home and into the stretch. The five-year-old gelding maintained his lead through the stretch and was never seriously challenged.

"This is shaping up to be one of the greatest runnings of the Haskell in the long history of Monmouth Park," said Dennis Dowd, senior executive vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. "The presence of Big Brown in the field guarantees a race to remember." Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown lost his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 when he was eased down the stretch. The colt, trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., has won five of six career starts for better than $2.6 million.

Along with Big Brown, the horse that won the Belmont Stakes has also received an invitation. Da' Tara registered a 5 1/4

The San Diego also serves as the local prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday, August 24. Not entered in the San Diego is 2007 Pacific Classic winner Student Council who is training at Saratoga. The six-year-old, however, is expected to be at Del Mar on August 24.

"Our goal is to win back-to-back runnings of the Pacific Classic," said owner Millennium Farms' Ro Parra.

"Physically, he came out of the race great," said trainer Steve Asmussen.

"He didn't embarrass himself and he sure didn't embarrass me," noted majority owner Jess Jackson. "I'm disappointed, but this is not a setback. And the horse that beat him is a very good horse, and I congratulate them on a great race." Future races for Curlin have not been finalized, with the colt possibly remaining on turf through his last career race.

The Del 'Cap has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita on Friday, October 24.

Last year Hystericalady finished a neck behind Ginger Punch in the 1 1/8 mile Breeders' Cup Distaff at Monmouth Park.

The 1 3/8 mile turf race was the first start for Curlin on grass.

Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, made the switch to the turf with the eventual goal of running in the Prix de L?arc de Triomphe on Sunday, October 5 at Longchamps Racecourse in Paris.

Checking in as the 5-1 second choice is 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf champ Red Rocks with Better Talk Now the 6-1 third pick.

Better Talk Now won the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2004 and was runner-up to Red Rocks two years later.

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Curlin, 2007 Horse of the Year, has been entered in Saturday's $500,000 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park. The 1 3/8 mile turf race will be the first start for the four-year-old on grass.

"It's a rare occurrence for a Breeders' Cup Classic champion to make the transition to turf," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said, "and we are looking forward to watching Curlin in his inaugural effort on grass. We thank Curlin?s majority owner, Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable, and trainer Steve Asmussen for bringing Curlin to New York and for their foresight and expertise in managing this outstanding champion." Curlin will be facing six experienced grass runners in the event. The colt will be ridden by his regular jockey Robby Albarado from the outside post. Should Curlin do well on Saturday his next start could be in the Prix Foy on September 14 as a prep to the Prix de L?arc de Triomphe on Sunday, October 5. Both races will be

The Del 'Cap has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic on Friday, October 24.

Unbridled Belle's trainer Todd Pletcher has the chance to join Henry Clark as the only conditioners to win the Del 'Cap four times.

Trainer Steve Asmussen had exercise rider Carlos Rosas guide Curlin through the half-mile workout in :50.80. Last week the four-year-old colt went seven- furlongs on the Churchill Downs turf in just over 1:30.

"He's an awesome horse, I'm excited," Asmussen said. "It looks like we ought to know something on the licensing today (Monday), I understand.

Sent off as a 13-1 outsider, Presious Passion took the lead right from the start in the $750,000 United Nations Handicap on the grass. The five-year-old gelding was allowed set the pace in the 1 3/8 mile contest as his seven rivals never challenged.

It wasn't until the homestretch that Presious Passion felt pressure. Making a late run was Strike a Deal. Jose Lezcano and Strike a Deal rallied down the stretch to get within a neck of Presious Passion at the wire.

Track owner Ron Geary closed the track before Friday's scheduled opening due to a dispute with KHBPA over account wagering revenues (ADW).

"This is a win-win for the horsemen and Ellis Park," said Ellis Park owner Ron Geary. "You can't imagine my relief to have the track opening." The track will open for racing as early as Friday, July 11 with the possibility of making up the five days lost because of the closing. Ellis Park will run its complete 2008 meet.

The $750,000 United Nations Handicap on the turf and $300,000 Salvator Mile will allow each winner to advance to the Breeders? Cup Turf and the Breeders? Cup Dirt Mile, respectively, at Santa Anita on Saturday, October 25.

Champs Elysees, bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, is the likely favorite in the nine horse United Nations field. Trained by Bobby Frankel, the five-year- old will start from the inside post position for the 1 3/8 mile turf race. Ramon Dominguez returns to ride the horse for the third time.

"90-percent of our revenues come from off track, Internet and television broadcast wagering," Geary noted. "The leadership of Kentucky HBPA (Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association) has an ongoing dispute with these ADWs (advanced deposit wagering companies) and Ellis Park is caught in the crossfire." Geary purchased Ellis Park in 2006 from Churchill Downs.

He filed a restraining order in federal court on Tuesday, July 1 to stop the Kentucky HBPA from blocking the Ellis Park signal.

This year's Classic will be conducted on the synthetic track at Santa Anita Park which may force defending champ Curlin to shift to a turf race. His connections, trainer Steve Asmussen and majority owner Jess Jackson, are looking to keep him from running on all-weather surfaces.

Asmussen and Jackson are serious about Curlin making a start on turf, he had a workout Tuesday morning on the Churchill Downs turf course. The four-year-old is being pointed toward a start in the France's Prix de l?Arc de Triomphe in October.

The announcement was made Monday three days after the five-year-old was discovered to have a swollen left front ankle.

Owned by William de Burgh, Heatseeker was scratched from last Saturday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup in which he was the 7-5 morning-line favorite. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer originally thought the five-year-old would recover enough to race again.

Mast Track, owned and trained by Bobby Frankel, took the lead out of the gate and took the field around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch. Running in second was Pimlico Special champ Student Council with McCann's Mojave in third and 2-1 favorite Go Between along the rail in fourth.

Baze and Mast Track continued to lead the field through a slow pace up the backstretch and into the far turn. Around the final turn Mast Track kept his advantage over the field.

Heatseeker, the original 7-5 morning-line favorite for the Hollywood Gold Cup, was scratched from Saturday's race due to swelling in his left front ankle.

The 7-2 second pick when the field was announced on Thursday, Go Between was the Santa Anita Handicap runner-up behind Heatseeker this year.

The 7-5 favorite for the 1 1/4 mile Gold Gulp, Heatseeker was discovered to have developed swelling of the left front ankle that will prevent him running on Saturday.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer indicated that it is not a serious injury and the chestnut horse should resume training shortly.

Rose admits that he struck the horse in the left eye while trying to keep the mount in a straight line during the third race at Delaware Park on Monday, June 23. The jockey did not hide from the situation, he immediately notified the horse's trainer Howard Wolfendale about it.

"I immediately reported what had happened to Tammy Wolfendale, the wife of the filly'strainer Howard Wolfendale, apologized to her, and called the Stewards," Rose said in a statement. "I spoke to Mr. Wolfendale early on the morning of June 24 to apologize once again and to make clear to him that I accept full responsibility for the filly's condition and all expenses related to

The 1 1/4 mile race, which will be run on the track's all-weather surface, has attracted a field of 10 older horses.

"We hope we have him exactly where we want him," said Heatseeker's trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. "He's been coming up to the race in a nice way. He's very comfortable with himself." The five-year-old will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano from post three. Owned by William de Burgh, Heatseeker is coming off a win in the Californian at Hollywood Park last month which followed a second place finish to Tiago in the Oaklawn Handicap. Tiago was second in the Californian.

has been suspended due to a horse that he trains tested positive for twice the allowable level of Clenbuterol.

Salute the Count, who had taken second place in a $100,000 stakes race at Churchill Downs the day before Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby, tested positive for twice the allowable level of the drug, which helps burn fat and promote muscle growth.

"In an effort to re-build confidence and the integrity to the great sport of thoroughbred horse racing in North America, IEAH Stables is proud to announce effective October 1 all horses in training and racing in IEAH silks will run only with Lasix," the ownership group stated in a press release. "No other medication, drugs or steroids will be administered.

"We believe this change is for the betterment of our sport," the announcement continued.

Owner Millennium Farms made the announcement Monday in a press release.

Thesix-year-old istrained by Steve Asmussen and was also up for consideration for the $400,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday.