Churchill shipper swaps surfaces

Nice Inheritance, winner of the Top Corsage Stakes on the turf at Louisiana Downs and second in a recent $100,000 optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on turf, takes her act to the main track in the $60,000 Matron Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

The one-mile stakes drew a field of 10 fillies and mares and goes as the ninth race on the card.

Nice Inheritance is trained by Steve Asmussen, who captured last week's Oak Hall Stakes at Evangeline with the Churchill shipper Sonoma Cat. Nice Inheritance is a three-time winner over dirt.

A 4-year-old Pure Prize filly, Nice Inheritance posted a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure in running second in the $112,000 Harry Henson Handicap at Sunland Park in mid-March. She has trained well since arriving from Kentucky, including a five-furlong work of 1:02.40 at the Evangeline Training Center on July 16. It was the fastest of 14 moves at the distance that morning.

Randall Toups, who rode Sonoma Cat to victory last week, has been given the call on Nice Inheritance.

The best of the locally based runners in the Matron appears to be Ruling Class. Third to Nice Inheritance in the Top Corsage on the Louisiana Downs turf in late May, Ruling Class won in her return to dirt in a money allowance on June 18. The win came at Saturday's distance of one mile and was her fourth win at the distance. Trainer Terry Romero has given the call to Carlos Lozada.