Dicey D J may be vulnerable

Dicey D J dominated eight rivals as the 4-5 favorite when she shipped from New York to Pimlico to win the five-furlong Hookedonthefeelin Stakes earlier this month. She figures to be a short price again when she returns to Pimlico to face another group of Maryland-bred 3-year-old turf fillies in the $60,000 Pearl Necklace at 1 1/16 miles.

Based on trainer Linda Rice's record with stretch-out sprinters on turf, however, Dicey D J may be vulnerable.

In situations where Rice has asked one of her turf sprinter winners to go longer, she is 0 for 17, which doesn't bode well for Dicey D J.

The viable alternatives in a field of eight include Heavenly Moon, the Richard Small-coupled entry of Hartigan and Inventive, and Clara's Song.

Heavenly Moon has run essentially the same race twice since she was switched from dirt to turf. Both times, she rallied to finish third against first-level allowance company. Her trainer, Hamilton Smith, shows a good 3-for-13 record with turf females in stakes who finished in the money last time out. Heavenly Moon needs only to move forward slightly to contend in this spot.

Hartigan, a stakes-winning sprinting on turf last season, displayed her versatility when she won the off-the-turf Hilltop three weeks ago.

Her stablemate Inventive was third of four in the Hilltop and will be making her turf debut. Her above-average Tomlinson turf figure of 306 indicates she should handle the surface.

Clara's Song has a number of angles working in her favor. She will be making the second start of her current form cycle, her second start on Lasix, and be trying turf for the second time. Considering that she rallied from far back to just miss by a length in her first start on grass, any improvement would make Clara's Song a dangerous contender here.