Races 1, 3, and 5 Saturday at Santa Anita have been moved from turf to dirt. The only remaining turf race is race 8, the $200,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds from which program favorite Publius Cyrus has been scratched.

Handle declined this week at Santa Anita, which is experimenting with earlier post times. Post times may be a factor in the decline, but the biggest reason for a dropoff this week is short fields (6.0 starters per race Thursday and Friday) and unappealing racing. Blame the weather. Saturday preview (scratches as of 10 a.m.) …

Race 1 – Off turf; a field of five remains in this maiden race at one mile. First-time gelding Jungle Warfare (6) inherits favoritism; he finished in the money all eight starts. Scratches: Majestic Eagle (3), Desert Stone (4), Noivo (8).

Race 2 – Go Girl Gone (8) is favored in this maiden-20 fillies and mares, based on her third-place debut at six and a half. She cuts back to five and a half and could be gone. However, a pair of second-time starters merit longshot consideration. Cow Dog (1) and Mongolian Rahy (3) both broke slowly first out; both can improve at 5-1 and 8-1, respectively. Scratch: Dixie Lassie (4).

Race 3 – Off turf in this sprint stakes for Cal-bred fillies and mares.  The switch benefits front-runner Miss Sunset (4) and compromises How About Zero (5).

Race 4 – Comeback dropper Omdurman (8) is the proper favorite in this $10k claiming sprint, but Here and There (4) enters with a big look based on figures.

Race 5 – Off turf; Lauren’s Ladd (10) inherits favoritism in this $25k claiming N2L mile. Scratch: program favorite Dark Energy (2).

Race 6 – Easter Morn (2) is favored in this Cal-bred N1X sprint, based on his six-length romp over maidens last out. Scratch: Lord Admiral (4).

Race 7 – Cal-bred maiden-50s go six furlongs. Comeback-first-time-gelding-dropper Johnny Ray (3) is the program favorite, but comeback dropper Two Hail Marys (5) has a look as does blinkers-on longshot Jerry’s Thunder (8). Scratch: Seattle Encounter (2).

Race 8 – River Boyne (3) inherits favoritism in the Pasadena Stakes, a $200,000 race for 3yos that remains on turf (as of 10 a.m.). Scratches: Pubilius Syrus (4), Ax Man (7).

Race 9 – Big field of 10 fillies and mares entered the Grade 1 Santa Margarita in which Mopotism (9) is favored. Last-out N2X winner Misstressofthenight (5) is on her way up, and worth a gamble at anything close to her 8-1 morning line.

Race 10 – Coil Me Home (7) is favored in this Cal-bred maiden sprint; comebacker Baby Gronk (2) goes first off the claim by Bill Spawr. The gelding has more speed than he showed first time out.

First post time Saturday, 12 noon. Average field size Saturday, as of 10 a.m., is 8.3 starters per race.