ELMONT, N.Y. - With more than four inches of rain pelting the New York area since Thursday, there is no certainty that Monday's $100,000 Pebbles Handicap will remain on Belmont Park's inner turf course as scheduled.

That explains why 16 horses were entered for the nine-furlong race, with four designated to run only if the race is moved to the main track.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mobil held off a persistent Shoal Water in the stretch to take Saturday's $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes by a half-length at Woodbine.

Longshot Ballen Isle led through quick fractions while being tracked by a host of runners, including Shoal Water, in the 1 1/16-mile race for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds. Gavro, the 5-2 favorite, was checked heading into the turn behind the leaders, just as Mobil loomed into contention in a three-wide position.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hot Talent, who suffered her first loss last time out in the Ontario Colleen Stakes, will try to regroup as the probable favorite in Monday's $161,250 Carotene Stakes at Woodbine.

Five other Canadian-bred 3-year-olds fillies were entered in the nine-furlong race, which could have Sovereign Award implications in the turf filly or mare division.

Hot Talent won her first three starts for trainer Malcolm Pierce, including the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bettors have become so familiar with the 3-year-old turf division in California that past performances are hardly necessary to identify the most likely winner of the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby on Sunday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - This time of year, the buzz on 2-year-old fillies centers on the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Sunday at Belmont Park, the focus will be on a field of seven juvenile fillies in the $150,000 Astarita who are probably not headed to the Breeders' Cup.

The Grade 2 Astarita, a 6 1/2-furlong race, drew a competitive bunch, including stakes winner Humorous Lady; impressive maiden winner Harford Ghost; and the undefeated Big Score. All starters carry 117 pounds.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Although there is a substantial out-of-town influence at Keeneland in the fall, it exists to a lesser degree than in the spring, when many top stables stop here while en route from southern winter quarters to northern homes.

Most notable are the New York stables that make the Keeneland spring meet a part of their year-round circuit. Trainers such as Christophe Clement, Bill Mott, John Kimmel, and Todd Pletcher routinely send sizable strings to Kentucky in April before they return to Belmont Park.

CHICAGO - Most Feared logged a strong workout Thursday at Arlington, his second-to-last breeze before a start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he is not the only horse owner Tom Durant and trainer Ronny Werner hope to start in the World Thoroughbred Championships. Werner said Friday that the star-crossed Touch Tone, fresh off a third-place finish to Xtra Heat in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, was being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela, the leading rider at Hollywood Park and Del Mar this year, was disqualified from two winners on Wednesday and Thursday at Santa Anita and received a three-day suspension on Friday for one of the troubled rides. It was his third suspension for a riding infraction in the last two months.

Valenzuela is expected to appeal the suspension, which was given for his ride aboard Free Question in Wednesday's third race, according to his agent, Nick Cosato.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - How much difference does a week make?

It made enough of a difference for the $60,000-added Time to Leave Stakes finally to be run at Bay Meadows.

The stakes race for 2-year-old fillies will be run Sunday, one week after its originally scheduled date.

Six fillies will go in the six-furlong race, including Hostility, who won the identically named Time to Leave Stakes here in June.

Nine were nominated to the race last week. Ten were nominated this week, including five new horses.

ELMONT, N.Y. - While John Salzman is in Chicago preparing Eclipse Award champion Xtra Heat for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a colt he trains, Run Prod-uction, could earn him a stakes win in Sunday's $100,000-added Cowdin at Belmont Park.

Run Production, a winner of three of four starts, is among six 2-year-old colts entered in the Grade 3 Cowdin. The 6 1/2-furlong race came up lighter than its filly counterpart, the Grade 2 Astarita for 2-year-old fillies, which will be run one race earlier on the card.