Finally - We're Back!

It feels like forever, but after a six week enforced layoff (we entered several times and couldn't get into a race), Tabby Lane is ready to give Remington Park a shot. After a very encouraging stint at Tampa Bay Down we really expected a lot out of her this summer at Canterbury Park but the summer of dreams disintegrated quickly after her first few tries up north and we were left scratching our heads as to what her issue was. We knew it wasn't physical and she outwardly showed the signs of being a happy horse so maybe she didn't care for the make-up for the racetrack? We turned her loose going long last out and, even though it was over the turf (not her favorite surface) she finished a respectable second.

Now we're in at Remington Park going a nice 7.5 furlongs, though, again, we couldn't get into a dirt race, only over the turf. The class is $10,000 Claiming and here is the field.

Lady Gdanski (Chleborad/Corbett) - She won for fun at this level last time out over a sloppy racetrack after the race was moved off the turf. This is her third time out at $10,000 bookending a terrible race over the turf with two wins on the dirt. Could be the turf course is not her cup of tea.

Fancy Princess (Donlin/Quinonez) - Finished 9 3/4 lengths behind Lady Gdanski in her last, but beat Tabby handily two starts back at Canterbury. Better on the turf than the dirt, this hard trier has hit the superfecta in every start since being claimed by the Donlin barn.

Sneaky Irish Lass (Rhone/Butler) - Looking for her third in a row over the turf and her first win at Remington, she'll find herself close to the lead most of the way. Butler opts for her over Tabby this time out.

Tigertude - (Salisbury/Hamilton) - An allowance winner her last season, since that win the only other triumph was in a $3200 claiming race at Arlington Park. Last out was handled easily by $10,000 claimers, though finds herself back on the grass for the first time since this summer.

Fleet Trader (Burress/Buckley) - First ever try on the turf was a disaster, but also way too short to give her a shot. Drops in class and increases the distance, but Tomlinson turf number is only 150, so you have to wonder if it's square peg in a round hole here (But if anyone understands not getting into the race you want, it's us!!)

TABBY LANE (RHONE/WALKER)

Sum Gracie (Pruitt/Kimes) - Has been hitting the board all summer long with a string of three seconds coming into this one. Beaten by two in here already, it doesn't bode well for this filly who appears to be tailing off if you can believe her Beyers. More solid on the turf than dirt, if this one stays on the grass it may be a tough one for her to win.

Senora Tormenta (Davidson/Birzer) - One of the vanquishers of Sum Gracie, last out she moved up into $15,000 company and faltered but now she drops back where she is comfortable and is a turf horse all the way. She'll want to come off the pace and there will be some pace to chase in here.

Silver Senorita (Seaton/Matz)- Wired a group of $4,000 claimers last out in her Remington debut. She takes quite the step up here, though. Given Tabby's proclivity to closing, I know I'm glad this early speed is in the race.

Northern Winn (Hale/Wethey) - After a nice summer at Canterbury winning 2 of 4 and working her way up the class ladder, she was claimed out of the Rhone barn at $4,000 after winning the race on the dirt easily. She enjoyed the Canterbury turf and loves front-running trips. Steps back up in class, but has won at higher levels before.

ALSO ELIGIBLE

Skipadoll (Romero/Wethey) - Smoked in two allowance efforts over this turf course since coming back from summer vacation, she'd be dropping into claiming company since getting handled at Old Evangeline Downs in a $10,000 effort.

The chance of rain we had hope for disintegrated with the weather calling for sunny skies and a high of around 85. So off on the turf we go which really makes it much harder for us to win than if we got moved to the dirt. Fortunately there are a few horses in here that will either vie for or push the pace early, our gal not being one of them. Our best chance at this thing will be to rate off the pace and fine some room late. She should have plenty in her gas tank, but we'll see how she handles the going.

Best of luck!