Gray has mare to beat

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Remiewaterbluz will be going for her 10th lifetime win, and her fifth in six starts at five or 5 1/2 furlongs, in Saturday's $16,000 sixth race. The five-furlong allowance race for fillies and mares has attracted five starters.

Trained by Clayton Gray, Remiewaterbluz has run three times this year, most recently finishing fifth in the one-mile Wintergreen Stakes at Turfway Park on March 21. Prior to that, the 5-year-old Remiewaterbluz won a starter allowance and a conditioned allowance race at Turfway.

Remiewaterbluz won five of 13 starts last year, including the local Canada Day Stakes, earning $84,460. A daughter of Lucky So n'So, she has won three of eight starts here and missed the board only once.

Remiewaterbluz will break from post 3 with Paul Leacock on board for the first time.

Ocean Effect and Dark Rapids should provide the stiffest competition to Remiewaterbluz.

Trained by Lise Pruitt, Ocean Effect won three of seven starts last year. A 4-year-old filly, Ocean Effect has hit the board in all three of her starts at five or 5 1/2 furlongs but is facing older mares for the first time.

Ocean Effect begins from post 2 under Jerry Pruitt and should battle with Dark Rapids for the early pace.

Dark Rapids will be making her first start locally. Fourth last time out in an optional claimer at Turf Paradise, the 5-year-old mare will be ridden by Travis Hightower and will break from post 4.

Beausox, winner of the Jack Hardy Stakes and Assiniboia Oaks here in 2002, was winless in nine starts last year. A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred, Beausox will be saddled by Dennis Harrisko for the first time and will break from the rail under Jason Leacock.

Rounding out the field is Cathy's Star. Trained by Gordon Marsh, Cathy's Star finished last of seven in the same Turf Paradise optional claimer as Dark Rapids in her most recent start.