I Never Give Up makes her Canterbury turf debut Thursday night in race three.  Ry Eikleberry is aboard for the one mile race scheduled for approximately 7:33 PM.  The Club will have a spot in Silks and it is paddock group 4’s (Ruehmann – Zimmerman) turn to try and turn our fortunes around.

Nevvy (Yes, she DOES have a nickname around the barn now!) will be taking on 9 other fillies and mares in what looks to be an interesting contest.  Here is the field:

Raging Gold Digger (Bernt/Velazquez) – Well bred miss has a start under her belt this season from which to improve off.  It looks like she’ll be close to the pace early.

Sunset Dreamer (Swan/Gonzalez) – She’ll be making her turf debut Thursday night.  While we finished ahead of her last out, the turf could be a different story.

Aspiration (Richard/Loveberry) – Had two fair goes over the Fairgrounds turf very early in the year before moving to the dirt at Oaklawn and Prairie Meadows.  It looks like she should appreciate the turn back to grass.

Kalliste Rose (Lund/Goncalves) -Mediocre in turf debut at Fairgrounds but was also first lifetime start.  Another coming over from Oaklawn maiden special weights and they are very tough running here.

I NEVER GIVE UP (LITFIN/EIKLEBERRY)

Looking Good Carol (Padilla/Sanchez) – Considerably better on turf than on dirt so though we finished ahead of her in our last, that shouldn’t be held against her in here. She may try and be prominent early.

Ready for War (Tracy/Butler) – Second time starter surely has a right to improve off of that first effort.  Moving up from Prairie Meadows and moving up in class while carrying a big turf Tomlinson (347).  She could be dangerous if she takes to the turf w/ Butler aboard.  Another who may be keen early stretching out from a sprint.

Natalie’s Toccet (Offolter/Hamilton) – Making her turf debut coming in from Will Rogers.  Looks like she’ll want to make a run late.

Great Finale (McFarlane/Arrieta) – She was able to hang on longer in her last over the Turf Paradise turf.  She gets an additional 1/2 furlong in this one.  Could be too much or could be rounding into form? Most certainly will be pressing the pace.

Derby Dance (Rengstorf/Mojica) – Lady kept knocking on the door at the end of last season with 4 second place finishes in a row.  Been training consistently and, if her last year’s form is to be believed, she’ll be up close as well.

Nevvy had a respectable run over the turf in her only try at Delmar as a 2-year old.  She had some trouble ducking out and, let’s face it, the Delmar summer meet is a very difficult one.

Last out in her local debut she ran tough but tired late.  The turf should let her carry her speed a little further.  Combine this with Nevada working on getting her stamina up and she should improve off of that last start, which puts us in the thick of things here.

The race is a bit odd as the field is very mixed with several first time turfers, a second time starter and horses racing at Canterbury for the first time.  There doesn’t appear to be a pure “speed” horse in the field but I think we can expect some of the horses stretching out for the first time to possibly push the pace.

There also appears to be a few that want to do the same thing as we most likely will: stay close and make a run late.  That’s going to make it mighty exciting as they turn for home!

Good luck!