Mile distance works in favor of Plaer's Trump

Gracie Jane and Plaer's Trump head a field of eight Nebraska-bred fillies and mares going a mile in the $20,000 Matchmaker Stakes at Lincoln Race Course.

Gracie Jane will be making her first start since winning the Al Swihart Memorial Stakes at Fonner Park on May 1 and will be seeking her third straight win this year. A 5-year-old mare trained by Jim Cranwell, Gracie Jane has compiled a consistent career mark of 5-5-3 from 15 starts. The Swihart was her first career stakes victory, but she has placed in all her stakes attempts.

Plaer's Trump has rebounded to her good 2008 form in two starts this year for trainer Herb Riecken and should challenge for the role of favorite here. In her last start on June 5, Plaer's Trump rallied from well back to miss by a head in the Bluegrass Stakes at six furlongs. The stretch out to a mile will suit her style.

Plaer's Trump, now 6, suffered through an 0 for 4 campaign in 2009 but is a multiple stakes winner.

Both Gracie Jane and Plaer's Trump do their best running from off the pace and should receive an honest pace to run at Saturday. Black and Fancy, trained by Tom Garry, won her maiden here May 28 and has primarily sprinted during her career. Nayborhood Affair, trained by Steve Hall, was a front-running winner of a second-level allowance here, also on May 28, and should again contest the lead.