Ex-claimers collide in Spruce Knob

On My Hip and Love to Plunge, both claimed for $16,000 or less earlier this season, are among the contenders in the $45,000 Spruce Knob Stakes, a 4 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old West Virginia-bred fillies at Charles Town.

On My Hip, taken out of a sixth-place finish against maidens for $16,000 in late April by trainer Steven Brown, responded to the change of barns by decisively winning her next two starts, both going 6o1/2 furlongs.

Love to Plunge, claimed for $15,000 in May by trainer William Goff, has also won two in a row for her new connections, including the 4o1/2-furlong Potomac two weeks ago.

The filly to fear is Moviemaker. She easily won her maiden two starts ago, but was never in contention after being crowded at the start as the odds-on favorite in her first try against winners.