Floating on Air gets pace to attack

The $10,000 Inaugural Stakes starts out the stakes schedule at Columbus as a field of seven 3-year-old fillies will go six furlongs in an interesting matchup of speed versus closers.

Floating on Air should appreciate a strong pace to ran at in front of her. A recent purchase from California connections, she will be making her Nebraska debut for trainer Mark Lemburg. A filly by Peace Rules, Floating on Air brings a career mark of 3-4-1 from 16 starts into the race after having raced mostly on the Northern California circuit. Luis Ranilla will be aboard.

Trainer David Anderson will send out Dazzling Izzy and Sprig of Acacia as an uncoupled entry, with both fillies appearing to want the lead. Dazzling Izzy contested the pace in the one-mile Fantango Lady Stakes at Horsemen's Park last weekend before fading to fourth. Sprig of Acacia's only stakes effort this year was a fading fifth-place finish in the Princess Stakes at Lincoln. She was returned to claiming company, where she tired badly in her last out.

Caprina was an impressive maiden winner at Lincoln in her debut on June 12. She seized command early and widened at every call to score by 13 lengths while in hand. She then shipped to Prairie Meadows, where she vied for the lead against optional claiming company before fading to sixth.

Ms. Bumper sprinted off to a long lead in the Breeders Special at Lincoln on July 5, opening up eight lengths in the far turn before she was run down by Apple Crumble in the stretch and finished second. She showed an ability to rally in her career debut at Fonner Park in March, when she was squeezed back at the start and came from well back to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

Recovery Girl, a romping maiden winner going a mile at Lincoln in her last start, should also appreciate a hot pace up front.