Coronas at Delmar brings streak into Free Press

Coronas at Delmar, who has been on a tear since being claimed by trainer Jonathan Nance at Portland Meadows last December, will make his local bow in Saturday's $30,000 Free Press at Assiniboia Downs.

The Free Press, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, has attracted a field of eight and is the first stakes race of the meeting.

Coronas at Delmar was claimed for $2,500 from a win and has been perfect in four starts for his new barn, including the $50,000 Portland Meadows Mile in his latest.

David Lopez picks up the mount on Coronas at Delmar, and the pair will break from post 1 for Nance, who is off to a good start at the meeting.

Monsoon Rain, last year's Free Press winner, ended the 2009 campaign on a down note but begins this season with a new trainer in Tanya Lindsay.

A Manitoba champion when trained in 2008 in Marty Drexler, Monsoon Rain has been working up a storm for his return, including a blazing four furlongs in 45.60 seconds on May 27. Monsoon Rain will begin from post 5, with Juan Crawford in the irons for the first time.

Wooden Ya Know It and Mr Exspeedient, the one-two finishers in the 5 1/2-furlong allowance prep for the Free Press on May 15, also are in the stakes lineup.

With eight starts and three wins already under his belt this season, Wooden Ya Know It has the look of an improved performer and will have Janine Stianson in the saddle.

Mr Exspeedient was making his seasonal bow in the prep, and Tyrone Nelson retains the mount.

Adding to the depth of the Free Press field are Justin and Chaplain, both of whom are coming off wins in second-level optional claiming sprints.

Justin's victory came at five furlongs in his local debut after being claimed for $15,000 at Oaklawn Park.

Chaplain was claimed in Ontario last June and won 3 of his 4 starts over the winter at Turf Paradise.

Robertino Diodoro, who leads the trainer standings at Northlands Park, is Chaplain's conditioner.

Rounding out the field is Grow Up, who ran fourth in the prep, and No Reply, who was a stakes horse at Assiniboia last year but returns in questionable form.