Dutrow powerhouse looks tough in Conniver

Case of the Blues, the runner-up in last year's Conniver at Laurel Park, takes another crack at the stakes this Saturday.

Case of the Blues, the likely favorite among the nine Maryland-bred fillies and mares entered in the $60,000 Conniver, is a winner of three of her last four starts.

Case of the Blues, trained by Tony Dutrow, is a powerhouse at Laurel Park, winning half of the 12 starts she has made at the Maryland track.

Owned by Skeedattle II, Case of the Blues turns back in distance in the seven-furlong Conniver after winning the Nellie Morse Stakes around two turns at Laurel Park on Jan. 20.

A 5-year-old mare, Case of the Blues is quite capable at sprint distances as well, winning a pair of six-furlong races last fall, including the Maryland Million Distaff.

Mario Pino, aboard for Case of the Blues's latest wins, has the return mount from post 7.

Case of the Blue's style is to sit back early and make a strong late run.

Your Out, Case of the Blue's toughest rival, receives another shot at Dutrow's mare after finishing third in the Nellie Morse, beaten 2 1/4 lengths. Your Out, a 4-year-old with nine career starts, is lightly raced compared to Case of the Blues, who makes her 25th career start in the Conniver.

Your Out, who has never finished worse than third, has made the most of her limited opportunities, as evidenced by her 5-3-1 record.

Trained by Graham Motion, Your Out, a daughter of top Maryland sire Allen's Prospect, began her career in 2000 with four consecutive wins, including three Maryland juvenile stakes.

Motion's filly raced only four times last year, and her one win came in the two-turn Twixt Stakes.

Ramon Dominguez rides Your Out, who likely will stalk the early speed.

The probable pacesetter is Winter Leaf, who was eased in the Nellie Morse after enduring early pace pressure. Winter Leaf has run twice since the Nellie Morse, finishing second in an optional claimer on Feb. 6 and returning 16 days later to win an optional claimer at the Conniver distance in gate-to-wire fashion.