Illusive Crystals returns

Illusive Crystals, who has never been beaten by Colorado-breds, will have to overcome a 10-month layoff and multiple stakes winner Vannacide to keep her streak alive Monday in the $30,000 Ingrid Knotts at Arapahoe Park.

The six-furlong race is restricted to statebred fillies and mares and it is part of the three-day opening weekend stakes action at the track.

Illusive Crystals first raced at Arapahoe in 2008 and won her maiden, an allowance, and the $35,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Lassie by a combined 36 lengths. She then was off the board when facing open-company rivals at Turf Paradise and Arapahoe before returning to the winner's circle last July in the $35,000 CTBA Breeders' Oaks. Illusive Crystals romped by 13 lengths that day, and for her first start since has worked consecutive bullets at Arapahoe.

Adrian Ramos has the mount for trainer Butch Gleason.

Vannacide, who also is trained by Gleason, is a two-time winner of the Ingrid Knotts. The 9-year-old mare has won 10 stakes. Vannacide will be making her first start since last meet at Arapahoe, when she won three stakes including the Ingrid Knotts. Vannacide has won 15 of 38 races in her career for earnings of $245,162.

The six-horse field Monday also includes Heaven's Prize, a shipper from Turf Paradise who was second to Illusive Crystals in last year's CTBA Breeders' Oaks.