INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A persistent rainstorm has forced Hollywood Park officials to scrap weekend turf racing and move both stakes to the main track - the $125,000 Matiara for 3-year-old fillies Saturday and the $70,000 Steinlen Handicap for older horses Sunday. Five turf races scheduled Friday and Saturday were switched to dirt; the Sunday card is main track only.

Even in wet weather, turf stakes typically are not taken off the grass two days beforehand. But racing secretary Martin Panza saw no reason to delay the inevitable decision.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - One obvious question surrounded the feature race Thursday at Churchill Downs: Would Allamerican Bertie care for the turf?

The answer was a resounding yes.

Allamerican Bertie, a 3-year-old filly who finished a close second to Farda Amiga in the Alabama Stakes in August, led all the way under Pat Day to win her turf debut with ease. Allamerican Bertie, owned by the Klein family of Louisville, won the $55,475 allowance race by eight lengths, defeating seasoned turf mares such as Histoire Saint, Solvig, and Sitka. She returned $3.60 as the heavy favorite.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When the Churchill Downs fall meet lasts four weeks instead of five, the traditional stakes schedule fits neatly on the calendar, with a stakes race matched to every weekend date.

But with a quirk in the calendar elongating the 2002 meet to five weeks, there are a few unavoidable holes. For instance, there is no stakes on the 10-race program Sunday, when three allowance races fill the void.

STICKNEY, Ill. - Chalk players are ready to go into hiding at Hawthorne. Through Thursday's program, favorites had won only 24 percent of the races during the first five days of this meet. Full fields, a significantly speed-biased main track, and a fundamental shift in the qualities needed to win races have combined to bury many short-priced horses.

On Wednesday, the average win price here was $20, while Thursday's average winning mutuel was a healthy $17. After a couple shorter-priced winners early on the card, winners of the last five races paid between $10.80 and $42.

ALBANY, Calif. - Chilean-bred Se Me Acabo will meet some of northern California's most consistent mares Sunday in the $60,000-added Camilla Urso Handicap.

The six-furlong race attracted a field of seven, including stakes winners Bullish Miss, De Goddaughter, Fertile, and Posadas.

Se Me Acabo was fifth in her United States debut in the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 14. She subsequently finished third in the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch Handicap - behind Azeri and Angel Gift - and the Piedra Foundation Handicap at Del Mar.

Mav Cat, a versatile colt who has won his last two races by a combined 10 lengths, should have plenty of speed to stalk Sunday in the $30,000 Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds drew eight, some of whom are expected to advance to the $75,000 MEC Mile Dec. 1.

To remain undefeated, Witt Ante will have to fight off the Cole Norman-trained duo of Mr. King Rex and Teepee Creeper in Sunday's $30,000 Pelican State Stakes at Louisiana Downs. The six-furlong race for 2-year-olds bred in Louisiana closes out the meet in Bossier City, La.

The season has been a good one for Witt Ante. He won his maiden on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 21, then returned a month later to take the $40,000 Stardust Stakes. Trainer Larry Robideaux has given the mount to Kirk Leblanc.

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Defending champion Scioto Bootski will be the starting highweight and the one to beat when she faces a full field of Ohio-bred fillies and mares in Sunday's $40,000 Scarlet and Gray Handicap.

Scioto Bootski, a 4-year-old daughter of Storm Boot, defeated males in her last local start, the Sept. 14 Honey Jay Stakes.

She has since finished third against males in the Best of Ohio Sprint Championship at Thistledown on Oct. 14 and won a statebred allowance against females at Thistle on Oct. 28.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Indiana-breds who are sired by registered Indiana stallions are the focus in Sunday night's pair of $40,000-added stakes. Both the Richmond Stakes for fillies and mares and the Gus Grissom for colts and geldings are carded at 1 1/16 miles.

Maggie's Dream is unbeaten in three starts this year but must stretch out in distance in the Richmond Stakes and face Amanda's Crown, a sharp sprinter who also is unproven around two turns.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Julie Krone rode the first winner of her week-old comeback on Thursday at Hollywood Park. The victory could not have come on an easier mount.

Krone rode Jade Vixen to a comfortable six-length win against maiden claimers, scoring on a heavy favorite.

"I got a little teary-eyed when I pulled up," she said.

The win came six days into her comeback following an absence of 3 1/2 years from competitive racing. Jade Vixen was her eighth mount in the last week, and first aboard a favorite.