Invaders look solid in Matron

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - One Only Knows and Think Fast, both making their Assiniboia Downs debut, are the headliners in Saturday's Matron Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.

The Matron Breeders' Cup carries a guaranteed purse of $40,000 with $25,000 available to Breeders' Cup-eligible horses. One Only Knows and Think Fast, along with Sunset Lane and Victory Thrill, are eligible for the bonus.

Stakes-placed One Only Knows was claimed by the K 5 Stables for $62,500 at Woodbine in her most recent start and will run for trainer Harry Kube. A daughter of Barkerville, One Only Knows has won 4 of her 7 starts this year, with all her victories coming in claiming races at Woodbine.

Think Fast matched her career-best Beyer Speed Figure with an 82 when she finished a close second in the City of Edmonton Distaff Handicap at Northlands Park in her most recent start. A daughter of Crafty Prospector, Think Fast won her two starts before that, both against optional claimers. She should battle for the early lead on Saturday with Ericka's Lass.

One of two 3-year-olds in the Matron, Ericka's Lass won the Assiniboia Oaks in her last start. Ericka's Lass, trained by Emile Corbel, has hit the board in all nine of her lifetime starts.

Victory Thrill, the other 3-year-old in the field, finished second in the Assiniboia Oaks. Prior to the Oaks she had won three races in a row, including the Jack Hardy Stakes.

Remiewaterbluz, third in this race last year, and three-time stakes winner Pete's Surprise also merit consideration.

The field for the Matron Breeders' Cup, with jockeys from the rail out is: Remiewaterbluz, Paul Leacock; One Only Knows, Travis Hightower; Pete's Surprise, Ken Hendricks; Rainbows Forever, Jerry Pruitt; Sunset Lane, Keveh Nicholls; Victory Thrill, Beth Butler; Maui Money, Larren Delorme; Ericka's Lass, Mike Iammarino; and Think Fast, Richard Hamel.