Group 3 will take center stage tomorrow evening in the paddock for the fifth race when I Never Give Up looks to break her maiden – and ours!

The race is a 5 furlong maiden special weight over the turf course with Denny Velazquez aboard breaking from post 5 (if you like 5s, you have feel good – 5th race, post 5 going 5 furlongs).  It looks like we will have a lovely night for racing so I expect the race to stay on the turf.  The estimate post time is 8:23 and it looks like we’ll have a spot in Silks for the evening.

Here is the field of nine:

Renegade Runner (Lund/Hernandez) – May be the only one in here with any early speed and the rail should be helpful in that regard.  Has had a hard time staying competitive near the end of races but hard to tell what could happen if she gets loose early and starts feeling brave.

Heffington (Kline/Harr) – She was 4th in her career debut while running evenly.  Jockey Kelsi Harr has made the most of her limited opportunities this season – the first of her career – winning 2 of her 4 starts and finishing 2nd in another.  Moves to the turf and she looks like she’s bred for it.

It’s Noon Somewhere (Anderson/Butler) – Finished just ahead of Heffington in her last.  She returns to the turf where she has run better.  She gets the services of crafty veteran Dean Butler.  Back short and on the grass, if she can improve off of her career debut she may be able to do some damage here.

Hot Harley (Stoneking/Mawing) – Steady diet of works for the Minnesotan including a bullet work on July 12.

I NEVER GIVE UP (LITFIN/VELAZQUEZ)

Patriotic Bei Bei (McKinley/Arrieta) – Another Minnesota first timer.  Steady works with a pair of bullets indicates that she should be fit.

Oh Bette (Richard/Sanchez) – Prairie Meadows shipper up to try the turf, not an unfamiliar site as their season winds down and some come north to give the turf a try.  You can draw a line through her last as the 3YO filly took on older males with a predictable result.

Astral Favor (Merrick/Loveberry) – Impressive pair of Canterbury races this season at this distance on this surface.  She finished 2nd twice, both to fillies that went on to win their next start.  She should be stalking the pace.

Coffee Cake (Robertson/Eikleberry) – Third Minnesotan first timer.  Well bred for the turf from a top owner (Joel Zamzow) out of a top barn (Mac Robertson) with the leading rider (Ry Eikleberry)  Long string of steady works, filly should be fit and Robertson is 23% with first timers.  She could be one dangerous first timer.

Like Nevada said in the video, Nevvy is having a bit of a reset which is why we are starting her back at 5 furlongs.  She should be very competitive in this race and her race 2 back could certainly win this.  I don’t know what our strategy will be heading into the race as she really hasn’t shown a strongly preferred running style.  Most likely we’ll let Denny see how she breaks and use his best judgement from there.

Hopefully that lands us in the winners’ circle.

Side note: Ark did not get a race this weekend, but we will be entering for next weekend so stay tuned.

GOOD LUCK!!