Unbridled

TodayTwo recent stakes winners are among eight fillies and mares in the lineup for the Contrary Rose Stakes, a six-furlong event with a $50,000 purse.Mz. Ann, owned by Michael Cantaneo and trained by Ann Merryman, won the Park Heights, a turf sprint over a course rated good. It was the filly's first stakes victory of the year.Godmother's victory in the Grade III Safely Kept Stakes, her first stakes win of the season, was recorded at the same distance but over the main strip. The 3-year-old, owned by breeder Art Appleton, came from off the pace to win the $100,000 affair.

BEIJING -- When Americans visit this city for the first time, they are often surprised and encouraged by its increasingly modern veneer, including the glass-and-steel towers, the dozens of McDonald's restaurants, the cell phones and the occasional Mercedes. They often leave with the impression that Chinese are becoming more like Westerners -- which is true to a point.But the trappings of middle-class life are just those -- trappings. And nothing better demonstrates some of the stark differences that remain between the United States and China than their people's collective reactions to the NATO bombing last week of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, the Yugoslav capital.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The decade began with Unbridled -- and one of the most poignant moments in televised sports.As Unbridled wove his way down the long stretch in the 1990 Kentucky Derby, his trainer, Carl Nafzger, described the action to the colt's frail, 92-year-old owner, Frances Genter."

Passion and normality are both desirable traits, but what happens when they come into conflict? Peter Shaffer examined that question in his 1973 drama, "Equus," which is receiving a powerful production at Olney Theatre Center. A 17-year-old stable boy has suddenly and inexplicably blinded six horses. Since then, the only words he has uttered are advertising jingles. The boy is sent to a psychiatric hospital instead of jail. But the child psychiatrist who takes the case has mixed feelings about treating him. Mitchell Hebert's thoughtful portrayal of doubt-ridden psychiatrist Martin Dysart and Scott Fortier's intense depiction of the troubled teen-ager, Alan Strang, turn the doctor-patient relationship into an emotionally charged one. From the moment Dysart breaks through Alan's defenses, the two develop a wary respect for each other, a respect that, for Dysart, turns into admiration.

In the widely lamented divorce case known as Angelos vs. Johnson, one could blame ego alone. Professional sports team owners, managers and players have almost as much ego as they have money.Yet, in this extraordinary split-up, the parties were separated by an ethical standard, of all things.The matter of Peter G. Angelos, principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles, vs. David A. Johnson, 1997 American League Manager of the Year, had a messy public hearing in the court of fan opinion. Then last week, each party in his own way concluded the relationship had irreconcilable differences.

BIG INVESTMENT FIRMS are making a mockery of the state's property tax sales, which until recently were orderly auctions that helped Maryland jurisdictions clear up delinquent real estate bills.Investors violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the bidding process by offering absurd sums of money -- a trillion dollars and even "infinity" for tax-delinquent properties. Successful bidders win the right to pay the taxes and then to seek reimbursement from the property owners plus legal fees and interest rates ranging from 12 to 24 percent.

BEIJING -- In recent weeks, China has taken on an unreal air. Home to the world's oldest continuous civilization, the country is now being told by its leaders to get civilized.Part of an effort to shore up President Jiang Zemin's reputation as a strong, thoughtful leader, the campaign to "Construct Spiritual Civilization" has plastered China's ancient cities and streets with enigmatic slogans such as "Be a civilized citizen together," "Strengthen the construction of socialist spiritual civilization" and "The loving of our country is the primary pillar of the development of the Chinese spirit."

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The superhorse Cigar and the potential superhorse Unbridled's Song will stand eyeball to eyeball before tomorrow's $1.05 million Arlington Citation Challenge at Arlington International Racecourse near Chicago.Cigar drew the No. 10 post position yesterday, and Unbridled's Song the No. 9."We're hung a long way out," said Cigar's trainer, Bill Mott. "We'll just have to make the best of it."The Maryland-bred Cigar is the 1-5 morning-line favorite to win his 16th straight race, matching the great Citation's 46-year-old record for horses based in North America during the 20th century.

With the 121st running of the Preakness Stakes five days away, the stakes barn at Pimlico is eerily silent, the field still is taking shape and the status of possible favorite Unbridled's Song again has changed.After he finished fifth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, his handlers said he would not race again until his foot had healed and could tolerate regular shoes.Last week, the colt's owner, Ernie Paragallo, said Unbridled's Song almost certainly would not run in the Preakness. But yesterday, the trainer, Jim Ryerson, said from his barn at Monmouth Park, where Unbridled's Song is stabled, that the Preakness still is a possibility.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The second bolt of crushing news struck the Preakness yesterday. The winner of the Kentucky Derby, Grindstone, will not run in the May 18 race at Pimlico.The 3-year-old colt was retired yesterday after a bone chip was discovered in his right front knee. He had jogged in the morning on the Churchill Downs track here -- his first trip to the track since winning the Derby Saturday -- and returned to trainer D. Wayne Lukas' barn showing discomfort.X-rays revealed a bone chip in the same knee on which arthroscopic surgery was performed last August.