Des Moines to get tested by Blueskycat

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Blueskycat and Des Moines, the top two contenders, may battle with each other from gate to wire in the $45,000 Chantilly on Sunday at Assiniboia Downs. Eight 3-year-old fillies will contest the six-furlong Chantilly.

Des Moines ships in from Prairie Meadows in Iowa for trainer Ray Tracy. A daughter of Evansville Slew, Des Moines finished second last time out in the restricted Bob Bryant Stakes there, ending a four-race win streak. Alan Cuthbertson will ride Des Moines.

Blueskycat posted a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 75 in her last race, when she defeated first-level allowance company in her first local start. A two-time winner trained by Clay Brinson, Blueskycat spent the winner racing mainly against Arizona-breds at Turf Paradise.

Two fillies who could benefit from a pace duel are Sure Why Not and Out for Glory.

Sure Why Not, trained by Blair Miller, defeated Out for Glory on opening day for her first win. Most recently, Sure Why Not closed well to finish second against first-level allowance company at the Chantilly's six-furlong distance.

Out for Glory, trained by Emile Corbel, returned from her second behind Sure Why Not to win a May 20 maiden special weight.

Tijuana Gold finished third and was moved up to second behind Blueskycat in her last start.

Darlite won at first asking in wire-to-wire fashion over maiden claimers for trainer Carl Anderson on May 25, but will be hard-pressed to match the speed of Blueskycat and Des Moines.

Suzy's Success has hit the board in her last two, both against conditioned claimers here.

Primetime Cat, who ran twice in route races at Woodbine last October, makes her first start locally. She is trained by Patti Ross.