Penn National: Thisdanseistaken comes right back in McClay Stakes

One filly coming back on short rest and another who hasn’t raced in seven weeks bring the best turf credentials into Friday night’s $50,000 Alison McClay Stakes at Penn National Race Course.

Thisdanseistaken, whose four-race winning streak was snapped in a Sept. 5 stakes in which she encountered traffic trouble, and Somasach, idle since finishing third in the Jenny Wade on July 27, are the two logical choices in Friday’s five-furlong sprint on grass for 3-year-old fillies who have never won a stakes.

Thisdanseistaken was forced to steady turning for home in the six-furlong Jameela for Maryland-breds on opening day at Laurel Park. Her trainer, Hugh McMahon, is 3 for 14 (21 percent) with turf sprinters returning in 10 days or less, including a win by Thisdanseistaken on June 29.

Somasach, trained by Leigh Delacour, was scratched out of an overnight turf stakes at Belmont Park on Wednesday in favor of the McClay. In three starts since she has focused on turf sprints, Somasach has not been worse than third, including a win in a second-level optional $30,000 claimer at Colonial Downs. As a 2-year-old in Ireland, she was second in a Group 3 race going six furlongs.

Plus One and Discreet Evening will try to transfer their good form on the Tapeta at Presque Isle, where each has two wins in their last four outings, to grass for their turf debuts. Of the two, Plus One has run faster against higher-caliber competition. She beat nonwinners-of-three allowance foes two starts ago and has posted a string of Beyer Speed Figures between 72 and 84 in her last four races.

Trainer Todd Beattie has been trying to get Ruttzy Tuttzy into a turf race since late July. She won a first-level allowance and a second-level optional $25,000 claimer that were shifted from turf to the main track in July and August.

Boastful Dancer won her career debut sprinting on turf at Colonial Downs, then was eased after flashing high early speed when she was jumped in class and distance for the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks at 1 1/8 miles. She may improve back in a sprint.