Casino Transaction's last was key

Finishing a nonthreatening third in a stakes at Delta Downs, as Casino Transaction did last time out, doesn't appear to be particularly noteworthy. But the $55,000 Mademoiselle has turned out to be an extremely strong key race, which makes Casino Transaction a potential value play in Saturday's $80,000 Primonetta Stakes at Laurel Park.

Four of the seven fillies and mares who have run since the five-furlong Mademoiselle on Feb. 29 have come back to win, highlighted by runner-up High Heritage, who took a high-priced optional claimer last weekend at Oaklawn Park, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

Perhaps more important, that list of next-out winners includes three runners who finished behind Casino Transaction - I've Been Humbled (fifth), Des Moines (seventh), and Coach Mike (eighth), who captured a Delta Downs stakes with a Beyer Figure of 87.

Casino Transaction, who spent the winter in Louisiana with New Jersey-based trainer Greg Sacco, brings a 4-for-6 record sprinting on dirt into Saturday's six-furlong Primonetta.

Sacco shows a 7-for-19 record with female sprinters returning from 31- to 60-day layoffs the last three years. A $2 win bet on each of those starters would have produced a return on investment of $3.75.

Hungarian Boatbaby and What Time It Is, a pair of 4-year-olds who have each won their last two starts, figure to vie for favoritism.

Based in New York with trainer Tony Dutrow, Hungarian Boatbaby returned from a 10-month layoff to easily beat five high-priced optional claiming rivals at Laurel on March 9, earning a 90 Beyer. Dutrow is 4 for his last 10 with female sprinters who won last time out returning in less than 30 days in a stakes. That includes a win by Hungarian Boatbaby as a 2-year-old in an overnight stakes at Delaware Park.

What Time It Is, from the high-percentage barn of Mike Trombetta, has been freshened since clearing her second allowance condition with a career-best 92 Beyer on Jan. 21 at Philadelphia Park. The layoff of more than two months shouldn't be a problem, as evidenced by Trombetta's 4-for-16 record with filly and mare sprinters coming off similar absences.

The consistent All Giving merits respect, based on her 5 1/2-length romp against statebred stakes runners in the seven-furlong Conniver three weeks ago. She is 0 for 3, however, trying to come back in 21 days or less.