Cattle Kate tries cycle again

ANDERSON, Ind. - After a week's rest, Cattle Kate returns to face nine older Indiana-bred fillies and mares in the $35,000-added Merrillville Stakes on Saturday's 11-race program.

Cattle Kate finished second to Miss Dakota in last Friday night's Vincennes Stakes for 3-year-olds at the same distance and repeats a cycle that worked for her in September. Trainer Gary Patrick saddled her to victory in a statebred allowance on Sept. 6 and then wheeled her back eight days later to defeat open allowance company.

A 3-year-old daughter of Crown Ambassador, Cattle Kate has been worse than third only once in her 13-race career. This year she is 3-2-1 from seven starts and has become one of the best Indiana-bred distaffers in training.

Inosencio Diego, winner of three races on Wednesday night's card, will ride from post 2.

Maggie's Dream is the defending champion of the Merrillville but has not run since last March at Oaklawn Park. A winner of four straight here last year, including three stakes, her form tailed off in her last three starts.

If trainer Jeff Jones has her in good order, she could be a threat to take this field on the front end. Tommy Pompell will ride from post 4.

Ellens Lucky Star, Imbrachium, and C. T. Cruiser should be the speed in the field if Maggie's Dream does not fire. Regardless, there should be a good pace up front for Cattle Kate to chase.