MIAMI - Grass horses are supposed to hold their form better than their main-track counterparts, but you'd never prove that theory by using the local turf handicap division as an example. The unpredictable group will gather again at Calder on Saturday for the $40,000 Absent Russian Stakes, with any of at least a half-dozen members of the 12-horse field likely to come away with a victory in the 1 1/8-mile overnight event.

Trainer Karl Grusmark holds the hammer in Saturday's $40,000 Thomas F. Moran Stakes at Suffolk Downs, with a major player ready whether the race stays on the grass or moves to the main track. The Moran, for statebreds, is run at 1 1/16 miles and nine were entered.

Grusmark sends Monsterous Mitch, who posted 3 of his 4 career wins on the turf and will have a solid chance to win his first stakes after falling short in four previous tries, including last year's Moran, where he finished third.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Fresh off her upset win in the Frank "Buddy" Abadie Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs on July 30, Phone Affair heads the field in Saturday's $75,000 Elge Raspberry Stakes. Nine 3-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana will race a mile over the turf course.

In addition to her recent stakes win, Phone Affair finished third in the Chapel Belle Stakes in May. That race was on the local turf course and the experience should help on Saturday.

Two divisions of the same race, two completely different looks.

The $20,000 Yavapai Derby, for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles, has been split into two divisions Saturday, races 7 and 8.

In the first division, We Brothers appears to hold all the aces and will be an overwhelming favorite. In the second division, recent winners At Sunrise, Lute Oatson, Captain Barbosso, Fool's Destiny, and the filly Reds Fling provide a deep, competitive event. Each division drew a field of eight.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - A rematch between Wind Dancer and Fargo Forbes in the $10,000 Shortgrass Heritage for 3-year old colts and geldings headlines Saturday's Heritage Day, the richest day of racing in the province. Saskatchewan-breds square off in four gender-restricted $10,000 races, two for 2-year-olds and two for 3-year-olds. The 2-year-olds run 6 1/2 furlongs while the 3-year-olds compete over 1 1/16 miles.

Trainers Steve Klesaris and Steve Asmussen appear to be holding all the aces in a pair of six-figure stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds on Saturday at Finger Lakes.

Klesaris and Asmussen have major contenders in both the $128,275 Aspirant, which drew a field of six colts and geldings, and the $132,575 Lady Finger for fillies. Both stakes will be contested at six furlongs.

The Lady's Groom, winner of a similar overnight stakes two starts ago, and Separato, narrowly beaten in a pair of $100,000 races earlier at the meet, head a group of older horses going 1 1/16 miles in the $55,000 Gate Dancer at Delaware Park.

Although the first three finishers from last year's Mister Diz Stakes are back for the race Saturday at Pimlico, they all might be running for second money if Procreate shows up with his "A" game.

The 7-year-old Procreate, who raced for a $2,500 claiming price three years ago, has been a sensational reclamation project for trainer John Zimmerman. Since coming under Zimmerman's care last year, Procreate has won six races, set a world record for five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park, and captured the Claiming Crown's Rapid Transit for grass sprinters.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Financingavailable looked like the horse to beat in Sunday's Victoriana Stakes at Woodbine, but she will not be keeping that date after suffering a temporary setback.

"A little problem flared up after her last work," said Lorne Richards, who trains Financingavailable for K.K. Sangara. "She had to miss about five days of training.

"I had wanted to work her back in a week, but I wasn't able to do that, so I didn't feel it was in my best interest to run."

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Daniel David put on an exhibition of riding skill on Tuesday at Fort Erie. He won the first race, wire to wire, while having no stirrup on the right side of his mount, Tails of the Crypt, for the entire race.

"Soon as I came out of the gate the buckle on the stirrup broke," said David, 41. "The horse didn't get spooked. One mile and a sixteenth is a long way, even on two legs.