Horse Racing News by Dave Litfin

In her final workout for Saturday's Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park, Rachel Alexandra breezed a half-mile in 49.60 Monday morning on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga.

A rule change uncoupling same-trainer, different-owner entries at all state tracks was approved by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board recently, and takes effect starting Wednesday.

On a picture-postcard morning at the Spa, Rachel Alexandra worked a strong six furlongs over the Oklahoma Training Track Monday, as she nears a scheduled start in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park a week from Saturday.

Due to excessive heat, Belmont Park has canceled its scheduled nine-race live racing program for Wednesday.

Custom for Carlos, a well-traveled colt who has run triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures at four different tracks, and Bribon, last year's Met Mile winner, are top-weighted at 118 pounds and head a field of 10 in Saturday's Grade 2 True North Handicap.

The two Grade 1 winners in Saturday's Shuvee Handicap finished first and second, but not in the order most bettors thought they would, as Funny Moon posted a decisive victory by 2 3/4 lengths over defending titlist Seattle Smooth in the Grade 2 race.

Seattle Smooth, who won the Grade 2, $150,000 Shuvee Handicap as the prohibitive favorite a year ago, will be odds-on again when she returns from an 11-month layoff to defend her title in Saturday's 35th running of the one-mile race at Belmont Park.

Score another one for the Giant Killer.

Layoffs and pace are central handicapping issues in Saturday's Beaugay and Fort Marcy, a pair of Grade 3, $100,000 stakes scheduled, respectively, for the inner and Widener turf courses at 1 1/16 miles.

Tidal Dance came from off the pace for a comprehensive victory over three rivals in Saturday's $95,000 Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct.