Leva Mae tries longer at Charles Town

Leva Mae, a two-time stakes winner in ultra-short sprints this fall, will try to make it three in a row Saturday when she stretches out beyond 4 1/2 furlongs for the first time in the $50,000 Eleanor Casey Memorial Stakes at Charles Town.

The seven-furlong race drew a full field of 10 West Virginia-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Leva Mae won her maiden over a sloppy track in the Golden Gull on Sept. 27 and came back three weeks later to capture the $114,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic.

Although no one in the race has won going seven furlongs, recent maiden winners Gateway Lady and Jolie Ange both scored while negotiating two turns.

Gateway Lady, seventh in the Golden Gull, ships in from Mountaineer, where she wired eight rivals to win by 5 3/4 lengths going a mile against open maiden special weight company.

Jolie Ange, last of nine in her career debut at 4 1/2 furlongs, improved dramatically in her second career start, romping by 7 1/4 lengths while earning a 64 Beyer Speed Figure that is the best last-race number in Saturday's field.

Beboppin Betty merits respect stretching out off a maiden win for leading trainer Jeff Runco.