INGLEWOOD, Calif. - One of the problems facing winners of early season 2-year-old stakes is the presence of recent maiden winners in the next major race.

Crowned Dancer and Oberwald have already scored stakes wins at the current Hollywood Park meeting, but they could be overshadowed in Saturday's $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship by Kafwain, a fast maiden winner trained by Bob Baffert.

"I think that's the one they have to beat," said Mike Harrington, who trains Oberwald. "My jockey jumped ship. That should say something."

STANTON, Del. - Chances are, the Delaware Oaks will get an A. Adoration, Alternate, and Allamerican Bertie are foremost among the 3-year-old fillies who will clash Saturday in the 51st running of the $250,000 Delaware Oaks, a Grade 3 race that helps begin the signature weekend of the Delaware Park meet.

Adoration, a California-based filly who won the Hollywood Oaks in her last start, is a deserving favorite in a field of eight, although a win in the 1 1/16-mile race by Alternate or Allamerican Bertie would hardly be considered a major upset.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - At first glance, one be might inclined to concede the winner's share of the Ohio Derby's $300,000 purse to Magic Weisner, who finished a fast-closing second in the Preakness and was fourth in the Belmont Stakes. But while Magic Weisner is the most accomplished horse entered, a closer look suggests the race may not be all that one-sided.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Abraham Katryan will take a stab at both Woodbine stakes on Saturday when he sends out Wake at Noon in the $133,375 Bold Venture Handicap, and Runaway Love in the $106,000 Izvestia.

Wake at Noon should be favored in the Bold Venture, and will solidify his status as the country's top sprinter with a win in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.

EDMONTON, Alberta - The lean times in the local 3-year-old filly division may be in the past as a field of 10 entered Saturday's $40,000 Northlands Oaks at a mile.

Racing secretary Fred Hilts said he was encouraged by the response, since the 1 1/16-mile Penny Ridge attracted only five fillies on closing day at Calgary, and the 6 1/2-furlong Chariot Chaser had only four starters here July 1.

Despite the large field, the Penny Ridge winner, Sly Lady, and Fancy Prancer, who won the Mount Royal at Calgary and the Chariot Chaser, chose not to enter the Oaks.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - King Jeremy, Diglett, and Jazzy Yacht look like the ones to beat in Saturday's $35,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club at Hastings.

King Jeremy could have a slight edge over the other two contenders in the 1 1/16-mile race since there doesn't appear to be a lot of other speed, and he can be a pretty tough horse when he gets things his own way. On the other hand, Lady Vye should have a hot pace to close against in the supporting feature, the $35,000 Nanaimo Handicap for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

AUBURN, Wash. - Lasting Code, who narrowly edged Premo Copy and Ashbecca in last month's Irish Day Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, will take on the same tough rivals at the same distance in Saturday's $40,000 Paragon Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The $100,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes, which tops the Ohio Derby undercard, matches Ohio-bred female champions Lady Cherie, last year's champion handicap mare, and Ashwood C C, the 3-year-old filly champion.

Lady Cherie, a 5-year-old owned by M.Y. Stables Inc., has been a model of consistency throughout her 26-race career, with a record of 14-5-2, and earnings of $426,900. She has won 2 of 3 starts this year, including the six-furlong Brents Princess Stakes here.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Wish It Were, one of the top 3-year-old fillies stabled at Monmouth, was scheduled to face her biggest career test in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga next Saturday. But trainer Tim Hills said Thursday she will skip the race after coming down with a lung infection after a workout Thursday morning.

Wish It Were, who won the $50,000 Dearly Precious Stakes June 30, worked a solid five furlongs in 1:01.40. But after being scoped, Wish It Were was found to have a mild lung infection.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Blackjack Boy was purchased for $130,000 at the Keeneland Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale last year by Dave Clark, and Clark put him back into the Ocala February 2-year-old in-training sale this year.

Fortunately for Clark and trainer Steve Morguelan, Blackjack Boy was not bought, because in three career starts he has already turned out to be a stakes winner. And Blackjack Boy, shipping in from Morguelan's Kentucky base, should be favored to win his second consecutive stakes in the $50,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth on Saturday.