I'm Workin On It steps up to stakes company in Goldfinch
ALTOONA, Iowa – I’m Workin On It, the most exciting 3-year-old filly stabled at Prairie Meadows, makes her stakes debut in Saturday’s $75,000, six-furlong Goldfinch Stakes.
Trained by Lynn Chleborad and ridden by Alex Birzer, the same tandem that won the 2013 Goldfinch with American Sugar, I’m Workin On It, a $2,500 yearling purchase by Texan William E. Oswald, proved too much for her rivals when going 2 for 2 at the recently completed Oaklawn Park meet.
“Since I first saw her last December, she impressed me as a mover, galloping with a fluid stride,” said Chleborad.
I’m Workin On It beat good maidens and entry-level allowance horses in Arkansas and makes her stakes debut in good shape, Chleborad said.
“She shipped up here well and had a good breeze [April 17] over this surface,” Chleborad said. “She has settled right down.”
I’m Workin On It’s sternest challenge should come from the top Louisiana-bred Sibling War, who represents the high-profile connections of owner Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss. Victorious in the $100,000 Azalea Stakes on March 6 at Delta Downs, Sibling War has seven races under her belt but tackles open stakes competition for the first time. Jockey Ramon Vazquez gets the call and will make his riding debut for Amoss.
The Goldfinch, the first stakes race of the 2015 Thoroughbred meet, is the eighth race on Saturday’s nine-race program and has a scheduled post time of 9:37 p.m. Central.
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KEY CONTENDERS
I’m Workin On It (Beyers: 77-79)
◗ This Indiana-bred bargain buy was untested in a pair of Oaklawn wins. She showed ability on an off track and a fast track and raced effectively when placed outside of and inside of rivals. This strong, versatile filly takes a logical step into listed stakes company at her new home track.
Sibling War (Last 3 Beyers: 75-78-67)
◗ This experienced filly makes her first start outside of her home state of Louisiana. She was well spotted to earn $125,600 over the last six months.
◗ She turns back to a sprint after a narrow defeat in the Crescent City Oaks on March 28 at Fair Grounds.
Royal Song Dancer (Last 3 Beyers: 61-73-61)
◗ She likes to run in front and possesses the field’s lone stakes win against open company when winning the By the Light Stakes on Jan. 9 at Delta Downs.
Perfect Fit (Last 3 Beyers: 45-73-67)
◗ She ran a good second, beaten one length, in last December’s Trapeze Stakes at a muddy Remington. She returns after being outrun by champion Take Charge Brandi in Oaklawn’s Martha Washington on Jan. 31. She turns back to sprinting for a Bret Calhoun barn that succeeds here.