Meadow Dancer heads six in Colorado Breeders Oaks

AURORA, Colo. - Meadow Dancer, second in the July 1 Ruffian Stakes, heads a lineup of six 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's $25,000 Colorado Breeders Oaks at Arapahoe Park. The race is at a mile and 70 yards, and only Ijustwanttobemad, a maiden ship-in from Lone Star, has raced at the distance.

Meadow Dancer was caught in a unexpected speed duel in the $28,650 Ruffian. She was hustled to front at the half-mile mark of the seven-furlong race, then was unable to match strides with Love This Star in the late going and was beaten by 3 1/2 lengths.

Meadow Dancer, trained by Monk Hall, got both of her wins here last year in front-running fashion - a 14-length maiden win and then a 10 1/2- length win in the Colorado Lassie on Aug. 6. Orlando Martinez rides as usual.

Leading trainer Jon Arnett saddles Ecstatic Twist, and she figures to be the main threat. She was an impressive off-the-pace winner in her career debut here on May 27, getting up in the final strides of that five-furlong race. Most recently, on June 10, she raced evenly in a low-level allowance race, finishing fourth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths. Esctatic Twist adds blinkers and again will be ridden by Travis Wales.

Ijustwanttobemad ships in off a third-place finish against maiden $10,000 claimers at Lone Star Park on June 29. She showed early speed in that one-mile race, weakened in the lane, and was beaten 8o3/4 lengths.