Happy Mesa stuck out wide in Ta Wee Stakes

Twelve horses form the field’s main body, and there are two also-eligibles in the $100,000 Ta Wee Stakes, a one-mile grass race for 3-year-old fillies Thursday at Indiana Grand, which seems like a booming success until one remembers that the 2016 Ta Wee drew 23 entrants and was split into two divisions.

For 2017, 14 will have to do, as Dontmesswithjoanne and Mercy Ann are stuck on the also-eligible list and need scratches to run.

The Ta Wee probably has a defined favorite in Happy Mesa, who will have to overcome post 11 with a short run into the first turn, and perhaps a second choice as well in Lovely Bernadette. But there are other ways to go, and with such a bulky field on Indiana Grand’s tight course, luck figures to play a major role. The Ta Wee goes as race 8 at 5:49 Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Happy Mesa, by Sky Mesa
Last 3 Beyers: 89-83-82

◗ Finished well with the benefit of a strong pace in front of her to win the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico in her most recent start. That race probably was a career best, but Happy Mesa had performed only a notch or so below that form in two previous turf stakes this year. She seems solid.

◗ Made her last six starts for trainer Graham Motion but starts Thursday for trainer Mike Maker. Maker in 2014 had a tremendous season at Indiana Grand, winning with four of his eight turf-stakes starters at the meet. But since then, his local turf-stakes runners have gone just 10-1-2-2.

Lovely Bernadette, by Wilburn
Last 3 Beyers: 90-39-51

◗ Won the Rags to Riches Stakes last fall at Churchill Downs but had really lost her way (note the last three Beyers) before being switched to turf June 8 at Churchill. While facing older horses in a third-level allowance, a serious ask for a summer 3-year-old, Lovely Bernadette made a sharp move to take the lead and won comfortably in an eye-catching performance.

◗ Has worked five times since that start for trainer Jim DiVito, encouraging in its own right, and a breeze pattern punctuated by a near-bullet half-mile July 15 over Arlington’s Polytrack.

Queen Del Valle, by Baryshnikov
Last 3 Beyers: 87-76-78

◗ Florida-based filly, claimed for $25,000 from her career debut last summer, shipped to Woodbine and won the $105,000 Alywow over 6 1/2 furlongs last out.

◗ She’s 4 for 4 this year and has won nine of her 10 grass starts. Has done most of her damage in starter-allowance races but did win a minor two-turn turf stakes this year at Gulfstream.