Absolutely Cindy back to basics

A season of high ambition for Absolutely Cindy began in early March when the 3-year-old filly stunned male rivals by rallying to win the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. Although she failed to make much impact when trying a variety of top-class performers in six subsequent starts, Absolutely Cindy appears to fit well in her return to Turfway in the $50,000 My Charmer Stakes.

An overflow number of fillies and mares was entered in the 29th running of the My Charmer, a 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race that anchors a 12-race Saturday card at Turfway in Florence, Ky. Absolutely Cindy, with Julio Felix to ride, was assigned post 9 in a race that drew 14 entries but will be limited to 12 starters.

Absolutely Cindy is the pride and joy of Keith Kinmon, who bred, owns, and trains this daughter of Arch. After saddling her to win the Battaglia at nearly 20-1, Kinmon shot for the moon - to no avail - trying his stable star in five straight graded races, including the Grade 1 Ashland and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Since returning from a 5 1/2-month layoff in October, Absolutely Cindy seems to have rounded back to her best form, finishing a creditable fourth in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs, then a sharp third in a Nov. 21 turf allowance.

If Absolutely Cindy doesn't break her win drought Saturday, there are at least several others to fill that void, including A to the Croft and Kiss With a Twist.

A to the Croft, like Absolutely Cindy, has been overmatched on occasion this year, such as when she also took a drubbing in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks. Otherwise, when more realistically spotted, the Ken McPeek-trained filly has acquitted herself nicely, most notably in allowance victories at Churchill in May and in her most recent start in November. Brandon Meier, without benefit of his apprentice allowance, has the mount on A to the Croft.

Kiss With a Twist may come a slight favorite in the My Charmer after finishing a bang-up third in the Nov. 15 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill. Miguel Mena has the mount for trainer Jose Fernandez.

The My Charmer, named for the dam of the late Seattle Slew, is the 11th race on a Saturday card that starts at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.