Turf stakes at mercy of weather

ARCADIA, Calif. - At least on paper, Saturday's $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap for fillies and mares at Santa Anita appears to be an outstanding turf race.

That may be as close as the race gets to being run on turf, though, because of recent wet weather. With further rain expected, there is a strong chance the Grade 2 San Gorgonio will be run over 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

A transfer would most likely lead to the withdrawal of Grade 1 stakes winners Ask for the Moon and Megahertz.

has yet to start in the United States. The winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary for 3-year-old fillies in France last May, Ask for the Moon has not started since finishing seventh in the French Oaks last June.

"I'll run her on soft turf, but I won't run her in the mud," said trainer Laura de Seroux.

, a winner of 10 of 28 starts, finished second against males in the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 4. She is winless in three starts since winning the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap here last April.

Megahertz was 11th on a yielding turf course in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in October. "She doesn't like real soft turf," said her trainer, Bobby Frankel.

A soft turf course would help the chances of , who won the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2003 on a yielding course. The participation of many other entrants is likely to be decided early Saturday, when conditions will be better known.

One expected starter, regardless of surface, is Fencelineneighbor, who was supplemented for $3,000 on Tuesday. won the Audrey Skirball-Kenis Stakes on turf at Hollywood Park in 2003. Her best performance in a stakes last year was a second in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Most recently, Fencelineneighbor won a one-mile allowance race at Golden Gate Fields by five lengths Dec. 20.

If the race is run on dirt, Fencelineneighbor could face a challenge from Dolly Wells, who has placed in four straight allowance races, and Drought Breaker, who won the Marian Stakes at Fairplex Park in September.