Assiniboia: Notoriously bids for third straight stakes win in Matron

Notoriously, the top older mare in Alberta, will be looking for a third straight stakes success when she journeys to Assiniboia Downs for Friday’s $50,000 Matron.

The Matron, a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, has an interesting and competitive field of nine which also includes Alberta shipper Miss Victoriana, who is the defending champion, and Fleet Mama.

Notoriously, a 4-year-old who is conditioned by Rod Cone, has been lightly raced this year and comes in off victories in the 1 1/16-mile Madamoiselle and 1 1/16-mile City of Edmonton at Northlands Park.

Regular rider Tony Maragh will be in for the mount on Notoriously.

Miss Victoriana upset the Matron last year and has shown late interest when finishing behind Notoriously in their last two meetings.

Stephan Heiler takes over aboard Miss Victoriana, a 5-year-old who is conditioned by Red Smith.

Fleet Mama, a 4-year-old trained by Kelly Grieves, is making her stakes debut after putting together back-to-back one-mile wins under allowance terms. Heribert Martinez again gets the call.

Heading the local contingent are Ruby’s Big Band, who finished a close second when facing males in an open allowance race at 1 1/16 miles in her latest, and Golden Stripes, who has thrashed Manitoba-bred fillies and mares in her last two starts, including the one-mile Distaff..

Rohan Singh will be aboard Ruby’s Big Band, who earlier won the one-mile Canada Day with Golden Stripe a length back in second place.

Golden Stripe also captured the six-furlong La Verendrye at Assiniboia Downs this past spring.

Witch’s Coven upset both Ruby’s Big Band and Golden Stripes in the 1 1/16-mile Winnipeg Sun but then finished fourth in that recent allowance race in mixed company.

◗ The supporting feature on the eight-race card is the $50,000 Buffalo, a one-mile race for Manitoba-bred 2-year-olds.

Danger Rules, winner of his last two, including the six-furlong CTHS Sales, should be favored to extend his streak in the Buffalo.

She’s Regal and Jon’s Golden Run, maidens who were the two-three finishers in the CTHS Sales, will be looking to get over the hump.