MARYJEAN faces off against 7 other $10,000 claimers later today in race 3. She’ll break from post 7 for the 6 furlong dash with Alex Canchari aboard. Group 1 is in the paddock and there is room set aside for the Club in Silks.

Let’s take a look at the race:

1. SPUEY’S CABIN (Padilla/Hernandez) – She beat us the last time we faced her by a length for 2nd. Talented MN bred battled on the lead in that one before tiring late. Since that race she sprinted over the turf where she was a flat 6th.

2. CHUMASH (R. Rarick/Martin) – Did a really nice job for the Diodoro barn in Phoenix before tailing off upon coming to Canterbury. Changed barns two starts back and tired over the turf in her first start for the new connections. She back going shorter on the dirt this trip.

3. BADGE OF GLORY (Rhone/Butler) – Your 2013 Minnesota Oaks winner finds herself in claiming company again having not been able to duplicate her 3-year old success.

4. INNER GROOVE *Anderson/Martinez) – Prairie Meadows invader was claimed by Dave Anderson last out and you havwe to think at that late date he had Canterbury on his mind. This oft-claimed mare has shown flashes of early speed and I’d really like for her to showcase that again in this one.

5. SWITCHEN ER UP (Van Winkle/Eikleberry) – She was the one that wore down SPUTEY’s CABIN the last time we all faced each other. Tried the turf for two where she showed little and was claimed last out by the Van Winkle stable. Comes back to the direct for her new connections.

6. BELLS OF CONCERTO (Donlin/Carreno) – We had her beat by nearly three for 3rd the last time we were all together. Showed improvement in her last but also was running for 1/2 of today’s tag.

7. MARYJEAN (BRINSON/A CANCHARI)

8. SIMAI (Hawley/Shepherd) – Looks to be rounding into form but has been doing her rounding against lower level claimers.

The last time we ran this race SPUTEY’S CABIN and SWITCHEN ER UP battled on the front end with the latter putting SPUTEY away in the lane while we closed for 3rd. Alex mentioned after the race that it was just impossible to try and close on the racetrack that day. One question has to be: Has that track bias changed? The answer from the sprints I watched is maybe but if you’re good and you’re loose on the front end, you’ll be tough to catch.

I don’t think that these two will be alone on the front end this time, though. CHUMASH has shown some flashes of early speed while INNER GROOVE has also shown flashes of it as well. It’s my hope that these two will help force the pace between the two confirmed pacesetter and we get something to run at.

See you all at Silks, then over in the paddock as well.

GOOD LUCK!