INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Common sense won out. Rather than tempt fate by racing on grass, Even the Score will stick to what works Saturday at Hollywood Park - racing on dirt and starting as the deserving favorite in the Grade 2 Californian.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin considered entering Even the Score in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Memorial at 1 1/4 miles on turf, but a fast work early in the week, and a big field for Whittingham, forced a change in plans.

"We can always go back to turf later," Cerin said. There may be no reason to.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The absence of a California-based filly in the first four positions in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30 left West Coast horsemen confused.

Cal-based A.P. Adventure, Class Above, Hollywood Story, House of Fortune, and Silent Sighs had the credentials to win the Kentucky Oaks, but they all failed. Many owners and trainers felt the muddy track that day affected performances.

"It was a big disadvantage," said John Shirreffs, who trains Hollywood Story.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Saturday's $75,000-added California Oaks is often the crowning achievement for 3-year-old fillies at Bay Meadows.

Southern California invader Kurlicue looks as if she has a tiara firmly planted on her head, as she has only four rivals in the 1 1/16-mile race on the turf course.

"The trip should be fine for her," said trainer James Cassidy, who saddled her for a game victory in her United States debut last month at Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Musical Chimes secured a place in European racing history with a win in the French 1000 Guineas last year.

So far, she has not made the same impact in the United States. That could change when Musical Chimes runs against males in a stakes for the first time in Saturday's $350,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The Grade 1 stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf is a race that trainer Neil Drysdale thinks Musical Chimes can win.

"It doesn't appear to be the toughest Grade 1 on the calendar this year - on paper," Drysdale said.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Last year Roscoe Pito won five straight stake races, including two of the biggest prizes at Hastings, the Grade 2 British Columbia Derby and the Grade 3 Premiers. He was also named local horse of the year. After two disappointing efforts in 2004 - a fifth-place finish in the George Royal Handicap and a very lackluster effort when he finished eighth in the Hong Kong Jockey Club - he is looking to get back on track in the John Longden 6000 this Saturday.

No filly in the $50,000 Dixie Miss Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday has run six furlongs faster than Everheart, and she should go favored in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies that includes stakes winners Movant, Bluegrass Sara, and K J's Girl.

Everheart won her first stakes in her first attempt last out, when she won the $50,000 Wafare Farm Stakes at Lone Star Park in a blazing time of 1:08.80. Before that, she won a six-furlong allowance at Fair Grounds in 1:09.80.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - It's kind of an enigma. Trainer Steve Asmussen is by far the leading trainer of 2-year-olds at Lone Star Park but has never won the colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity.

That could change on Saturday, when Asmussen sends out seven of the 12 horses entered in the five-furlong race, worth $118,000. The race shares a program with the $129,000 fillies division, a race Asmussen has won four of the past five years.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Barbeau Ruckus will try to win the $129,375 Steady Growth Stakes at Woodbine for the second straight year on Saturday.

Barbeau Ruckus, a 5-year-old trained by Ross Armata, began a four-race win streak in the 2003 Steady Growth, a 1 1/16-mile race for Ontario-sired runners. He went on to capture three other restricted stakes, all at 1 1/16 miles.

Rosecroft Raceway, a Maryland harness track, and Maryland's Thoroughbred interests have agreed to a 90-day resumption of Thoroughbred simulcasting at Rosecroft and the return of night simulcasting at Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park

AUBURN, Wash. - Emerald Downs has signed a multi-year agreement with TVG for the exclusive television and account wagering rights to the track's races. The agreement also provides for source market fees to be paid to Emerald Downs when Washington residents wager through TVG.

TVG, a subsidiary of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. and a marketing partner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, received a license to conduct advance deposit wagering in Washington on Thursday from the Washington Horse Racing Commission.