‘Haddie’ fresh for sprint

Turf sprint specialists Haddie Be Good, Fantastic Spring, Beau Dare, and Weeks are the top contenders in the $55,000 Witches Brew Stakes for fillies and mares at the Meadowlands.

Although the five-furlong grass race drew 14 entries, only nine will be permitted to start.

Haddie Be Good hasn't raced since late July, but the last time she returned from a layoff she took the 5 1/2-furlong Candy Eclair at Monmouth Park. She also showed her fondness for the Meadowlands turf course when she won the P.G. Johnson at 18-1 in 2006.

Southern California shipper Fantastic Spring won back-to-back turf sprints at Del Mar before dueling for the lead and stopping in the Grade 3 Ken Maddy Handicap at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Meet.

Beau Dare has flourished since trainer Bruce Levine switched her from routes to sprints two races ago. After beginning her career 1 for 11 on grass, Beau Dare has a win going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga and a second in the five-furlong Phoenix Stakes at the Meadowlands.

Weeks, a 6-year-old trained by Mike Pino, won three turf sprints in a row, but her streak was snapped when she finished third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Beau Dare, last time out.