Ericka's Lass back in with females

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - After facing males in her first start of the year, Ericka's Lass will return to her own division in Monday's sixth race here at Assiniboia Downs. The 5 1/2-furlong allowance feature is a prep for the June 4 La Verendrye Stakes.

A 5-year-old trained by Emile Corbel, Ericka's Lass finished second behind multiple restricted stakes winner Resurgent in her first start of the year on May 7. The loss was her first in four starts at five or 5 1/2 furlongs.

Last season, Ericka's Lass lost her first start of the year to Siberian Falstaff. She rebounded to take a May 23 allowance prep for the La Verendrye before winning that stakes race.

Travis Hightower retains the mount on Ericka's Lass, who will break from post 2 in the field of five.

Siberian Falstaff is also in Monday's race. A6-year-old daughter of Siberian Summer, she has made just one appearance since finishing fourth in the La Verendrye last season, finishing last of 10 in a stakes race at Fonner Park in April.

Stakes winner Remiewaterbluz was winless in seven starts last season but never finished worse than fourth, including a trio of in-the-money finishes against stakes company. A 7-year-old daughter of Lucky So n' So, Remiewaterbluz makes her season debut and her first start for trainer Carl Anderson.

Anderson will also saddle Proudest Queen for the first time. An allowance winner at Oaklawn Park in January 2005, Proudest Queen makes her first start since March of last year.

The field also includes Hold on Heather, a 4-year-old trained by Mel Davis. Hold on Heather, stakes-placed twice last season, makes her first start against the top older mares here.