Goldfinch may stay in the family

Trainer Kelly Von Hemel has won the last two renewals of the $50,000 Goldfinch Stakes at Prairie Meadows, but this year it may be his brother Donnie K.'s turn.

While Kelly is conspicuous by his absence in the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Donnie Von Hemel will be represented by the regally bred Lorettine. A daughter of Cherokee Run out of the Grade 1 winner Confessional, Lorettine dug in to win an entry-level Oaklawn Park allowance race by a neck on March 15.

Her main opposition may come from the lightly raced Tampa Bay Downs runner Don'ttalktome. She impressed when easily winning her maiden on March 25. Judi Hicklin trains the daughter of Cactus Ridge.

"I trained her mother, Withdrawn, and she was very fast but had tiny size-four feet," Hicklin said. "Hopefully, this filly is as talented and will be more sound."

Like Lorettine, the consistent Lady of Greatness will make the trek west on I-80 from her Chicago base. On March 30 at Hawthorne, she won an optional claiming race by 1 1/2 lengths in her first try around two turns. Turning back to a sprint distance for trainer Larry Rivelli, she should be finishing strongly.

Fonner Park's best 3-year-old filly, Stroll By, tries tougher following three consecutive wins. Stroll By has shown steady improvement in her five lifetime starts and enters off a win in the Pepsi Stakes on March 21.

The Robert Gorham-trained pair of Fleets Meow, a daughter of the Grade 1-winning mare Flat Fleet Feet, and Moon Charmer round out the compact, competitive field.