Filly stakes split in two divisions

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Clever Idea and Cheries Challenge head their divisions of the $50,000 Michigan Juvenile Fillies at Great Lakes Downs on Monday. The seven-furlong race was split after it drew 14 Michigan-bred

2-year-old fillies.

The stakes will be the first two races on the 10-race card, which gets under way at 4:50 p.m.

Cheries Challenge headlines the first division. A Meadow Prayer filly, she sports a 1-2-2 record from 5 starts, including a second in the Michigan Sire Stakes. Ivan Gonzalez, who rode her that day, returns to Great Lakes from Beulah Park to ride her in the Juvenile. Richard Rettele trains Cheries Challenge, who was bred and is owned by Jan and John Buthr. Cheries Challenge has earned $43,047, second among the 14 entrants behind Clever Idea, who defeated her in the Sickles Image Stakes in September.

Clever Idea, who runs in the second race, has a pair of fourth-place finishes in stakes to go with her Sickles Image win. She has earned $54,224 for owner Steve Prain from five starts, including a disqualification from a first-place finish in her career debut. Trainer Dave Kueffner has once again engaged Freddie Mata to ride.