Look for these fillies in future stakes

OLDSMAR Fla. - The schedule for the first two weeks of live racing at Tampa Bay Downs has been light with only eight programs run prior to Christmas, but there have been a few noteworthy performances.

* Classy and Elusive, trained by Dale Bennett, came off a layoff to race in a six-furlong claiming sprint for nonwinners-of-two Dec. 8, and the Elusive Quality filly made quick work of her field as she smoked through a half of 45 seconds en route to an eight-length win while in a solid 1:11.04. She earned a career-best 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

* L's Lightning, another filly with a lot of gas, took the measure of heavy favorite Trainee when she went right to the front in a six-furlong allowance, set solid fractions, then came home with a final quarter of less than 25 seconds to win by five lengths in 1:10.91. She was awarded an 88 Beyer. Trainee broke a step slowly and was easily second best, setting up a possible rematch with L's Lightning, and possibly Classy and Elusive, in the $65,000 Minaret Stakes at six furlongs on Jan. 5.

* Meddling, a Devil's Bag filly, remained undefeated after two starts with a workmanlike effort on Dec. 15 to best a field of allowance runners in her turf debut. While her dam, Escaping, never tried turf, she did win 8 of 15 lifetime starts and was a multiple stakes winner. Meddling is also eligible for the Minaret but may opt for the Manatee at seven furlongs on Feb. 2 or stay on the turf and go through her conditions before trying turf stakes later in the meeting in races such as the Grade 3, $150,000 Endeavour on Feb. 16. and the Grade 3, $175,000 Hillsborough on March 15.

* It took Mary Louhana 18 starts to win her first race but she did it in style Dec. 18, running past the leaders entering the stretch, then drawing off to post a 3 1/2-length win over male rivals in a 1 1/16-mile maiden turf race. Mary Louhana, who raced in Grade 3 stakes in two other U.S. starts after an extensive campaign in Europe, is also eligible for the Endeavour and Hillsborough.