Charedi's Peak in tough company

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Charedi's Peak, who has won her first two starts by a combined 28 3/4 lengths, is just one of eight 2-year-old fillies who come into Saturday's 27th running of the $60,000 Sandpiper off a victory. The highlight of the New Year's Eve program at Tampa Bay Downs, the six-furlong Sandpiper attracted a field of 12.

Federico Mata will return aboard , a Pyramid Peak juvenile who romped home by more than 22 lengths in her career debut at Great Lakes Downs. She then came back to justify her role as the 7-10 choice in the Michigan Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs, leading throughout and winning by more than six lengths. A Michigan homebred, Charedi's Peak will face the stiffest test of her career in the Sandpiper, as she faces open company for the first time in a group that includes two stakes winners and several others with stakes experience.

One of those stakes winners is , a Mt. Livermore filly who is making her first start since mid-October, when she rallied from well back to take the $100,000 J J'sdream Stakes at Calder. Her late-running style should fit well in the Sandpiper field, which includes a lot of early speed, and if the track comes up wet as it did for the J J'sdream, Lake Alice's chances would improve.

Another late-running type is , who makes her East Coast debut in the Sandpiper. Claimed for $20,000 at Bay Meadows, My Girl Erin has been no worse than fourth in three outings for trainer Lonnie Arterburn, including a starter allowance win over a sloppy track at Golden Gate.

One of the more intriguing speed horses is Rgirldoesn'tbluff, a Pine Bluff filly who is undefeated in two career outings, including an 11 1/4-length victory against allowance rivals here on opening weekend. Rgirldoesn'tbluff is trained by Kirk Ziadie, who is off to another fast start with six wins from 15 starters at the meet.

, who won three straight during the summer at Calder including two stakes victories, comes off a short break after disappointing efforts in the My Dear Girl and Joe O'Farrell Juvenile. If she is able to regain her early-season form, she could prove formidable.

Others worth noting are No Hear Say, second to Lake Alice in the J J'sdream and a winner of her last; Time Banshee, who goes for her third straight win; and Misty Rosette, an impressive winner in her debut who has been working very smartly at Ocala Training Center.