If Not For Her enters sprint off solid stakes performance

The highest-level race Friday at Pimlico is a third-level optional-claiming sprint for fillies and mares. Since there are six entrants, it has been carded as race 2, meaning it will not be part of the Rainbow 6 or 12-percent-takeout pick five.

The field may be short, but it is highly competitive. Burn Control, Aix En Provence, Jonesin for Jerry, and She Ain’t Bad have all won second-level races in either their most recent or next-to-last starts. Possibly the best last-out performance belongs to If Not For Her, who chased the dominant winner Eddy Gourmet last time out in the Conniver, a sprint stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares.

Eddy Gourmet won the Conniver by 7 3/4 lengths. The victory was her second in a row since trainer Hugh McMahon added blinkers to her equipment. If Not For Her was no match for Eddy Gourmet in the stretch but gave her all that day while being caught late for second by Printasticat, who came into the Conniver off three straight wins.

If Not For Her was narrowly beaten in a third-level race two starts back and won a second-level optional claimer for trainer Mike Trombetta three starts ago. She is 3 for 10 in her career.

Burn Control won a second-level race at Parx following an 11-week layoff in her most recent race Feb. 1. The 80 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for trainer Kathleen DeMasi is the highest last-out figure in the field.

Aix En Provence finished second, beaten 13 1/2 lengths, in the $50,000 Videogenic last time out at Aqueduct on New York Claiming Crown Day. The winner of that race, Room for Me, is a California import who was making her East Coast debut for trainer David Jacobson.

** There also are two first-level allowance races on the Friday card. In race 8, Lasamanamama looks to have found a likely spot for trainer Mary Eppler. Lasamanamama finished third in the Sis City on Claiming Crown Day at Aqueduct last time out.

In race 4, Catcha Rising Star makes her two-turn and turf debut for Graham Motion. She finished sixth going 5 1/2 furlongs against the talented Streamsong in her first try against winners.

** Four of the six races in the Rainbow 6 on Friday are scheduled for the turf, weather permitting.

Races 5, 7, and 9 drew overflow fields with also-eligibles. A maximum of 12 runners will be permitted to start. There are nine entrants in race 4.