Dear Fay seeks repeat in Princess Elaine Stakes

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Dear Fay, the defending race winner in Friday’s $60,000 Princess Elaine Stakes, will face plenty of familiar foes among her 10 Minnesota-bred rivals in the 1 1/16-mile turf test at Canterbury Park.

Dear Fay, who returns to trainer Mac Robertson after an Arlington Park foray with his father, Hugh Robertson, last September, is 4-1-2 in nine starts over this course for earnings of $116,871. The 6-year-old Ghazi mare makes her 2015 debut in this spot.

Talkin Bout and Blues Edge have mixed it up in this division of Minnesota-bred fillies and mares for a few seasons, and both veterans are primed with the benefit of recent races.

Talkin Bout, a deep-closing 6-year-old Yonaguska mare handled by Gary Scherer, chased home the classy Stoupinator when third in a May 22 turf allowance here. Blues Edge, who likes to control her races on the front end, won a June 12 optional $50,000 claiming event over this course and distance for trainer Bernell Rhone.

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PRINCESS ELAINE S. (RACE 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Sky and Sea (Last 3 Beyers: 19-66-48)

◗ This dominant Minnesota-bred 4-year-old filly has three subpar efforts on her 2015 record.

◗ Regular rider Dean Butler, who could have opted for the mount on Blues Edge, stays put for her turf debut.

Fiona Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 72-68-53)

◗ She is from Francisco Bravo’s high-percentage string (11 for 47 at this meet).

◗ She registered a career-best 72 Beyer Speed Figure in an entry-level, 7 1/2-furlong allowance race June 14 at Canterbury.

Dear Fay (Last 3 Beyers: 77-41-72)

◗ This proven commodity will be ridden for the first time by Daniel Vergara, who is 0 for 1 in 2014-15 for trainer Mac Robertson.

◗ She shows an appealing string of weekly workouts over Canterbury’s main track dating to May 22.

Talkin Bout (Last 3 Beyers: 74-73-75)

◗ This versatile sort makes an appealing drop from open company, and a quick pace would suit her late kick.

Blues Edge (Last 3 Beyers: 78-72-72)

◗ Rhone taps Hugo Sanchez to ride his accomplished mare. Sanchez, who is 16 for 93 at this meet, is 1 for 5 for this stable in 2014-15.

Bourbon County in Blair’s Cove

Bourbon County, the top Minnesota-bred sprinter, experiments with route racing on grass when he takes on 10 rivals in the co-featured $60,000 Blair’s Cove Stakes.

Bourbon County, a 5-year-old Dehere gelding who is 2 for 2 here this season, has only sprinted in his 11-race career for Rhone. Butler, who is 6 for 9 aboard the Rake Farms homebred, takes the return call.

Ragged Edge, Bourbon County’s stablemate, zoomed home to win last year’s Blair’s Cove, a 1 1/16-mile test for Minnesota-breds, by two lengths, and the 6-year-old gelding lines up again.

BLAIR’S COVE S. (RACE 10)

KEY CONTENDERS

Ragged Edge (Last 3 Beyers: 67-73-54)

◗ He tries to snap an eight-race losing streak that began after his win in this race last year. This start marks a needed return to Minnesota-bred competition.

Sheer Trick (Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-39)

◗ This deep closer finished second in last year’s Blair’s Cove and is rounding into form for his third grass start of the meet.

Bourbon County (Last 3 Beyers: 83-80-68)

◗ Butler has won with 21 percent of his 163 local mounts for his father-in-law, Rhone, in 2014-15.

A P Is Loose (Last 3 Beyers: 77-60-58)

◗ He possesses good tactical speed and has a 2-for-6 record on the Canterbury lawn for trainer Robertson.

◗ Jockey Alex Canchari, second in the standings at Prairie Meadows, returns home for his meet debut.

Speed Is Life (Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-61)

◗ This 4-year-old gelding won last year’s Minnesota Derby and looked able when third in a June 21 optional-claiming route on turf.

◗ Jockey Ry Eikleberry is an excellent 5 for 12 for trainer Douglas Oliver in 2014-15.