'Kitty' may be beatable in stakes

Polynesian Kitty, a Manitoba champion last year, figures to be a prohibitive favorite in Tuesday's $30,000 Canada Day for fillies and mares as the division stretches out to a mile for the first time this season during a holiday card at Assiniboia Downs.

Polynesian Kitty has won 4 of 5 starts over the Assiniboia oval and defeated older mares last fall in the Matron at 1 1/8 miles.

In her only local start of 2008, the June 1 La Verendrye, Polynesian Kitty ran down the speed of Des Moines and R Lucinda to notch her first stakes win going six furlongs.

Sandwiched around her La Verendrye score, Polynesian Kitty tried turf for her two other 2008 appearances.

Most recently, on June 14, Polynesian Kitty finished seventh in the $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Mile at Canterbury Park.

Although Polynesian Kitty was only beaten 3 3/4 lengths there, the Canada Day marks her third start in a month and combined with trips to and from Winnipeg, she may be vulnerable.

Jamie Ness, who has fashioned a 6-4-0 mark from his first 10 starters at the meeting, trains Polynesian Kitty.

Miss Missile, the lone 3-year-old in the race, is a possible upsetter given her dominant 9 3/4-length score in the six-furlong Chantilly versus fellow sophomore fillies.

A winner of 7 of 17 lifetime starts and $268,667, Miss Missile appears to be the lone entrant able to control all the fractions, and she could prove difficult to collar down the long lane.

Fast Actress arrives from Kentucky, where she just won a $30,000 conditioned claimer for nonwinners-of-two at Churchill Downs.

Beshairt won the Canada Day last year, but was beaten 11 1/2 lengths in the La Verendrye.

Out for Glory closed to win a six-furlong race under second-level allowance terms last time and does have a mile allowance victory over the surface to her credit from last year.