Formal Miss owns class edge

It has been a long time between winner's circle visits for Formal Miss, who may finally have found the right spot to rectify that situation in Sunday's $60,000 Georgia Peaches Stakes at Calder.

The Georgia Peaches is a restricted stakes carded at one mile on the turf for fillies and mares who are progeny of Georgia Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association-nominated stallions. The condition gives Formal Miss, who has held her own against the best of the division on grass for the last several seasons, a class edge over the majority of her 10 rivals on Sunday.

Formal Miss started twice within a seven-day span earlier in the meet, finishing a troubled second in the five-furlong No Winking Stakes before returning a week later to be fifth after prompting the pace going 1 1/16 miles in the Liberada. Formal Miss has posted three seconds from seven starts this season, including a runner-up finish behind the odds-on Potra Classica in the Hollywood Wildcat Breeders' Cup Handicap on April 29.

Formal Miss has worked exceptionally well for trainer Paul Maxwell since the Liberada, posting a pair of bullet five- furlong drills in preparation for the Georgia Peaches.

Formal Miss figures to get a nice stalking trip behind likely pacesetters American Miss and Tune Up the Band if both start. American Miss is an unproven commodity on grass and would be better served if the race was moved to the main track. Tune Up the Band is a versatile sort who has captured two of her last three starts on dirt to go along with her five wins on turf.

Tiger Belle, who finished in front of Formal Miss when a late-striding third in the Liberada, also seeks her first victory of the season. A stretch-runner, Tiger Belle captured four of five starts during a 3 1/2-month span near the tail end of 2005 but is winless in four tries this year.

Morlana is the lone invader for the race, shipping in from the Midwest for trainer Scott Blasi off a third-place finish against $25,000 claiming company at Arlington Park July 4.

Chancey Light continues her quest to regain the form that saw her post a last-to-first three-length victory in the 2005 Georgia Peaches. She is coming off an eventful run in which she clipped heels and lost her rider before completing a half-mile in the Liberada.

Completing the lineup are Coquinerie, Tap Tap Antoinetta, Formal Lady, Casty, and Cat Can Do.