Heaven's Prize looks tough

Heaven's Prize is sharp and can come from off the pace, and those qualities should serve her well as she seeks her first stakes win in the $20,000 Ruffian at Arapahoe Park. The seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies drew a field of 10.

Heaven's Prize won a $10,000 conditioned claimer over five furlongs at Arapahoe Park on May 25, then moved to two turns for her last start June 12. Heaven's Prize stalked the pace in the one-mile race and was up for a head win.

She could again get a stalking of trip in the Ruffian, with a handful of speed horses in the field. Heaven's Prize also owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field, a 61. Leading rider Russell Vicchrilli has the mount for trainer James E. Jones.

Jilly Bean Queen, a stakes winner who is 3 for 4 in her young career, might be the chief threat. She is making her first start since September in the Ruffian and shows a nice series of works at Arapahoe for trainer Farrell Christoffersen. Travis Wales has the mount on the filly, who is a daughter of Doneraile Court.

Illusive Crystals was a 14-length winner of the $35,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Lassie last year. In her last start, she was fifth in an allowance at Turf Paradise on April 24. Adrian Ramos has the mount for leading trainer Kenneth Gleason.