Laurel: Miss Lombardi goes for tird straight

Miss Lombardi, who overcame post 11 and a slow start to come from far back to win the Maryland Million Ladies almost a month ago, goes for her third straight win in the $50,000 All Brandy Stakes at Laurel Park.

The 1/18-mile turf race drew a field of 12 Maryland-bred fillies and mares.

Although the 6-year-old Miss Lombardi usually stalks from a couple of lengths off the early pace, she broke 11th in the Maryland Million Ladies and was ahead of just two horses after the first six furlongs of the nine-furlong race. She rallied between horses to get up by three-quarters of a length and must pick up five additional pounds for this assignment.

Her chief rival looks like the 3-year-old Sales Tax, who is winless in five starts this season but has been earning Beyer Speed Figures in the low to mid-80s, which are comparable to Miss Lombardi's best Beyers.

Two others who deserve some respect are Lexi Star, whose only previous start on turf produced a third in the 2007 Maryland Million Ladies, and turf specialist Ten Bolts, who was third in last year's All Brandy and has been first or second in 7 of 13 lifetime starts.