Dublin Dutchess shoots for title

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Dublin Dutchess will try to cement her status as the top 2-year-old filly in Michigan on Tuesday, when she heads a field of seven in the $48,000-added Juvenile Fillies at Great Lakes Downs. The race, at seven furlongs, will be the first offering on the eight-race card, which has a special post time of 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

Dublin Dutchess will be coupled with Tinsel Time; both are owned by Henry Mast and trained by Robert Gorham. Dublin Dutchess, who has three wins and a second in four starts, was a galloping winner of the recent $133,000 Michigan Sire Stakes. Terry Houghton, the leading rider at the meet, will be aboard as usual, and they will break from post 5. Tinsel Time, a recent maiden special weight winner, will be ridden by Mary Doser.

Valley Loot is the only runner who has defeated Dublin Dutchess. She pulled the feat in the Temptress Stakes in September, and then went on to finish third to Dublin Dutchess in the Sickle's Image and second in the Michigan Sire Stakes.

Trained by Ronnie Allen and owned by Kimberly Allen, Valley Loot will be ridden by Mike Allen.

Leading trainer Gerald Bennett will saddle Circe and Stelvio. Stelvio, owned by Gene and Phyllis Gilmore, was second to Dublin Dutchess in the Sickle's Image. Freddie Mata will ride Stelvio.