Change Up takes step two on comeback trail

Less than a year ago, Change Up was among the most promising 2-year-old fillies in the nation.

Among the horses she defeated in her first six starts were future graded stakes winners Appealing Zophie, High Heels, and Mistical Plan, plus a maiden who this season gained fame by winning the Belmont Stakes - Rags to Riches.

After being sidelined for an extended period with a chipped knee, Change Up will attempt to take the first step in resurrecting her career in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Safely Kept Breeders' Cup for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

Based in Kentucky with trainer Steve Margolis, Change Up has started just once this year, finishing a distant third of five behind the undefeated La Traviata in the Post Deb at Monmouth Park.

That was more than two months ago. Margolis has given her a steady string of workouts at Churchill Downs to prepare for this spot. If Change Up moves forward at all off her 2007 debut, she should be dangerous in this spot.

Jesus Castanon, who rode Change Up in the first four starts of her career, will be reunited with the filly after she had different riders in her most recent three races.

The filly to catch - if she runs - is Ticket to Seattle. Making her first start since early July and her initial start against older horses, Ticket to Seattle set a fast pace, only to be run down late by the multiple stakes winner Silmaril in last month's Grade 3 Endine Handicap at Delaware Park. She was cross-entered in Friday night's Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at Hoosier Park.

If Ticket to Seattle drops out, the lightly raced Russian Gypsy might find herself alone on the lead. Based in New York with trainer Wally Dollase, Russian Gypsy wired first-level allowance runners at Saratoga, earning a big Beyer Speed Figure of 96, but had no chance in the Grade 3 Victory Ride when she was jostled around at the start and never showed a drop of speed.

Sindy With an S ships in from Southern California for trainer Mike Mitchell. She hasn't raced on a fast dirt track since last April, when she defeated high-priced optional claimers with a 98 Beyer Figure at Santa Anita.

She will be making the second start of her form cycle after finishing second of 13 in a restricted stakes over Polytrack at Del Mar.