Homecoming for Ms. Lady Rose

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Ms. Lady Rose, Saskatchewan's 2002 horse of the year and top older mare, returns to her home track, Marquis Downs, for Saturday's $5,000 Mademoiselle, and should be well backed to score her first victory of the year.

This year, Ms. Lady Rose has tried the best Winnipeg's Assiniboia Downs has to offer with moderate success, twice finishing third in allowance races before running an even fifth in the La Verendrye.

The Mademoiselle, for fillies and mares, is at one mile, which should suit Ms. Lady Rose very nicely.

A winner of 5 of 7 here last year, Ms. Lady Rose may get some pressure early from Even Temper on Saturday, but she looks like the lone true speed.

Andrew Scarlett picks up the mount on Ms. Lady Rose, the 122-pound highweight, who is owned by Gerald Wilson.

Turtle Ridge, who four years ago was a stakes winner here at age 2, also returns from Assiniboia Downs, where she fared much worse than Ms. Lady Rose, beating just one horse in three outings.

Most of Turtle Ridge's career has been spent in Alberta, and she has proven useful in the upper claiming ranks, twice winning for a $25,000 tag just last season. If rider Serge Rocheleau can get the best out of her, then Turtle Ridge could pull out the upset.

Artic Fox and Molly O'Grady have the best recent form of those who been racing locally, having finished one-two in the recent seven-furlong prep race.

Artic Fox ran seven times in Stampede Park this spring, winning once for a $5,000 claiming price. Molly O'Grady won here for a $4,000 price and was second in the Matron Handicap.

Rounding out the field are Even Temper, who has yet to hit the board in six starts this year, and Blue Camay, who has been third in three of her four starts here, including the Matron.