Beulah Park: Mercer U. improving

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Ten Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies, all searching for their initial stakes score, meet in the $40,000 Glacial Princess Stakes at Beulah Park.

Mercer U. may start as a slight favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Glacial Princess, based on her third-place finish in the Nov. 3 John Galbreath Memorial Stakes here in her most recent start. The Galbreath, which was also at 1 1/16 miles, was Mercer U.'s first start around two turns and the fourth start of her career, and she appears to have room for further improvement for trainer Mike Wycoff. Huber Villa-Gomez, who leads the rider standings here, has a return call.

Dinkers Pride is the most experienced member of the field and perhaps the most consistent, with a record of 1-4-2 from 9 starts. She is trained by Joe Shuman. In her most recent start, Dinkers Pride finished fourth, beaten 9 1/2 lengths, when facing male statebreds in the Ohio Freshman Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here Nov. 17.

Regular rider Tony Caminita will be in from his Thistledown base for the mount on Dinkers Pride, who finished second in the Emerald Necklace at Thistledown in September.

Notyourrunofthemill, a longshot, finished third, beaten just a head, while still a maiden in the Tah Dah Stakes in July at River Downs. She has since won her maiden for trainer Tim Hamm and finished in fourth in two statebred stakes, including the Galbreath Stakes in her most recent start. Julio Felix has a return call.