Justalittlesmoke faces new challenger to crown in Michael Mackey Memorial/Angenora Stakes

Justalittlesmoke, the 2016 Ohio-bred champion handicap female, faces a new challenger in the speedy filly La Quebrada in Saturday’s $75,000 Michael Mackey Memorial/Angenora Stakes at Thistledown.

Last season as a 4-year-old, Justalittlesmoke went 5 for 7 with earnings of $236,990, including a 2 1/4-length score in the Mackey/Angenora, a six-furlong sprint for Ohio-bred fillies and mares. She dominated the local prep for this year’s Mackey/Angenora, romping by seven lengths in her first start of the season May 20.

The 4-year-old La Quebrada has won her three races on the main track, all sprints, by a combined 41 3/4 lengths. She cruised to a 10 1/2-length victory in her first start of the season in an allowance for non-winners of three races. Her only loss came on turf in last year’s Tomboy at Belterra Park.

Bold Cait, fifth as the 3-5 favorite in last year’s Mackey/Angenora, prepped for a second shot at the stakes by winning a no-conditions allowance for open company in late April at Mahoning Valley.

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Michael Mackey/Angenora, Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Justalittlesmoke, by Smoke Glacken

Last 3 Beyers: 84-74-86

◗ Her lone loss in her last seven starts dating to last June came when she missed by a nose to Ohio-bred champion male sprinter Rivers Run Deep in the Best of Ohio Sprint.

La Quebrada, by More Than Ready

Last 3 Beyers: 77-65-30

◗ She will be facing far tougher competition than in her previous sprint.

◗ Although trainer Doug Cowans is off to a 4-for-10 start at the meet, he is 1 for 26 in stakes at Thistledown over the last five years, and only 27 percent of those runners even hit the board.

Bold Cait, by Sun King

Last 3 Beyers: 78-68-74

◗ Her two stakes victories came at 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 miles, but she did run well going six furlongs in her first start of the season.

Proper Discretion, by Discreetly Mine

Last 3 Beyers: 73-80-79

◗ She set the pace and faded in two tries against Justalittlesmoke last year and has been idle since winning the First Lady at Mahoning Valley in December. She lost by a neck when she returned from a similarly long layoff in 2016.