SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Weather can be unpredictable here, and on a recent afternoon, blue skies were rapidly replaced by dark clouds rolling in from the south.

Heavy rain started falling before the fourth race at Saratoga Race Course, and the brief storm soaked the turf course. As a result, the eighth race, the featured Yaddo Handicap, was transferred from the grass to the main track.

DEL MAR, Calif. - There were races on the Pacific Classic undercard last Sunday that honored Jose Cuervo, Jack Daniels, Finlandia, Heineken, and Budweiser. Their products were enthusiastically sampled by the crowd of 36,041 throughout the sun-drenched afternoon.

In the winner's circle after the Classic itself, a large group representing Korbel champagne lifted plastic flutes of golden bubbly and toasted themselves, the day, and the effervescent victory of the powerful little colt Came Home.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The 3-year-old championship in the wake of significant races on both coasts?

"It remains on the table," said Bobby Frankel. "The Pacific Classic moved Came Home way up. You still have to respect War Emblem for what he did in the Triple Crown. As for Medaglia d'Oro, he ran another big race in the Travers. He could go to the head of the class, not only in the 3-year-old division but in the Horse of the Year competition as well if he goes on to beat older horses this fall. There is no point in speculating now."

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Racing has plenty of new issues to debate these days as consolidation, simulcasting and in-home betting are rapidly and continually changing the face of the sport. It was an old issue, however, that generated the most passion at last Sunday's Jockey Club Round Table: the use of permitted raceday medication and the effect it may have had on the breed and the sport over the last 30 years.

DEL MAR, Calif. - We've grown accustomed to the look. Sunglasses, baggy shirt, and three days worth of whiskers topped by unruly hair poking out from the edges of a ball cap bearing some hip, enigmatic logo. It's a movie star, of course, wearing his carefully prepared scruffy look, trying hard to hide the fact that he is really Matt Damon or Leo DiCaprio.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - People start arriving at Saratoga Race Course as early as 7 a.m. to stake out a position where they will spend the afternoon. They may be content to spread out a blanket on a small patch of ground where they can't see a live horse and can barely see a television monitor. For much of the last week they had to endure oppressive heat and humidity. Saturday they will cope with even longer-than-usual lines at betting windows, concession stands, and rest rooms as nearly 60,000 people pack the track for the Travers Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - "Hardly a man is now alive who bet a lot at 2-5."

- anonymous

Medaglia d'Oro was most impressive in winning the Jim Dandy by almost 14 lengths. He has trained beautifully in the interim for Bobby Frankel, looks a picture, and will be a heavy favorite under Jerry Bailey in Saturday's 133rd running of the

$1 million Travers Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Just as Diogenes failed in his search for an honest man, the hunt this week for a trainer without a runner in the Sunday's Pacific Classic was going absolutely nowhere.

From barn to barn, phone to phone, the answer was the same. "Yep, I'm running. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

What was happening? Could this be California, where owners seem content to wait for the next one and trainers lay awake nights sweating over their win percentage? Don't they realize they could lose? Think of the embarrassment!

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On the eve of the $1 million Travers for 3-year-olds, which appears dominated by Medaglia d'Oro, Friday's $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap for fillies and mares, a Grade 1 feature at 1 1/4 miles, promises unusually keen competition between two outstanding performers who are among the leaders of their division.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The first day back from vacation is always a killer, but this time around it is really tough.

The letdown is palpable. Blues fill the soul. Sure, there is the $1 million Pacific Classic to look forward to on Sunday, with the potential of a meeting among War Emblem, Came Home, Sky Jack, and Milwaukee Brew.

But how, in all reality, can it hope to compete with the euphoric scene last Sunday at Ferndale when Black Ruby took the stage at the Humboldt County Fair?

Good racing always stirs the blood. Stars put the game on the boil.