Dazzling Seville heads Matchmaker

Dazzling Seville seeks her second stakes win of the year when she heads a field of five Nebraska-bred fillies and mares in the $20,000 Matchmaker Stakes on Saturday at Lincoln State Fair.

Dazzling Seville was second in this one-mile race last year and then scored consecutive wins in the Maturity/Matron and the Bill Callihan Stakes, both at Columbus, to close out her season. She captured the Orphan Kist Stakes in early March at Fonner Park this year and most recently was second in an open allowance and the Bluegrass Stakes while sprinting at this meet.

Trainer Cheryl LeGrande will have regular rider Luis Ranilla aboard Dazzling Seville.

Trainer Ron Westermann sends out the uncoupled entry of Real Battleaxe and Jane of Arcadia, with Real Battleaxe the expected pacesetter for this race.

Real Battleaxe, a 6-year-old, has always run well on this track, but is still seeking her first win of the year. She has a 5-6-3 mark from 14 starts here and could prove tough to catch if she is able to open up on the field early. Her stablemate Jane of Arcadia posted a 15-1 upset in the Fantango Lady Stakes at Horsemen's Park last summer, which launched her on a three-race win streak. However, she has yet to come near that form in five starts this year.

Shade On was a $5,000 claim in late April at Fonner Park and has since won for a $10,000 tag here. She was most recently third in the Bluegrass Stakes for trainer Sean Foley. Although Shade On is winless going a mile, it would be no surprise to see her run a big race here.

Scat's Princess rounds out the field for trainer David Anderson. A nonthreatening fifth in this race last year, Scat's Princess was third in the Orphan Kist at Fonner Park and then third to Shade On and Real Battleaxe in the $10,000 claimer here May 9.