Courtney Ryan vs. Wolfson trio in Nancy's Glitter

Courtney Ryan, a $6,250 claim who has won six of her last seven starts, will take on the Marty Wolfson-trained trio of Devil’s Cave, Centrique, and Swinger’s Party in the $75,000 Nancy’s Glitter Handicap at Calder on Saturday. The field of nine fillies and mares for the one-mile race also includes two-time defending champ Angelica Zapata.

Courtney Ryan has been dominating optional-claiming rivals at Gulfstream Park and Calder since January. She will be moving into stakes company for the first time this year in the Nancy’s Glitter and will break from the rail under the meet’s leading rider, Edgard Zayas. Tamara Levy, who is winning races at a 26 percent clip at this meet, trains Courtney Ryan for IAB Stables. The mare was a $6,250 claim in the summer of 2012.

“We love her. We love her a lot,” Levy said. “She’s special. No matter what you put in front of her, she just doesn’t ever see anything as too big. She’s always game to try whatever you want to do with her. We have been very lucky with her.”

Courtney Ryan will enter the Nancy’s Glitter off a 4 1/2-length win in a $10,000 optional claimer at a mile at Calder on May 16.

Wolfson trainee Devil’s Cave is the 122-pound highweight in the Nancy’s Glitter as a Grade 2 winner dropping in class. In her most recent start, she was third in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on May 2. Earlier in the season, Devil’s Cave won the Grade 2 Sabin at Gulfstream. Wolfson has given the mount to Eduardo Nunez, who may be able to work out a tracking trip off Courtney Ryan as Devil’s Cave will break to that one’s outside, from post 6.

Centrique will be moving back to a mile, the distance of her last win, following a second-place finish to wire-to-wire winner R Free Roll in the $65,000 U Can Do It Handicap at Calder on May 31. Centrique closed well and has reason to move forward Saturday in her second start since March.

Wolfson’s final representative, the stakes-placed Swinger’s Party, will be making her first start since September.

Angelica Zapata won the Nancy’s Glitter by nine lengths in 2012 and by three-quarters of a length in 2013. Jesus Rios has the mount for co-breeder and owner Herman Van Den Broeck and trainer Ron Pellegrini. Angelica Zapata was fourth in the Sabin in her last start Feb. 16.