Miss Sandy Dee eyes top ranking

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Miss Sandy Dee tries to secure honors as the top local older mare Sunday in the $35,000 Matron Stakes here. The 1 1/8-mile race has attracted a field of nine.

Miss Sandy Dee last raced Aug. 5, capturing the Winnipeg Sun for her first stakes victory. Miss Sandy Dee, trained by Patti Ross, probably will be close to the pace Sunday and jockey Rohan Singh should be able to give her a good trip from post 2.

Trainer Jack Robertson sends out the entry of Frisky Lover and Love Play in the Matron. The pacesetter in the Winnipeg Sun two starts ago, Frisky Lover came back and finished second in the Assiniboia Oaks and probably will contest the pace here under jockey Robert Munoz.

Love Play, a winner of three of six starts, finished third in the Assiniboia Oaks and will be ridden Sunday by Tim Gardiner.

Watshername ships in from Saskatchewan riding a three-race win streak, with her most recent score having come in the Horizon Computer Solutions Handicap Sept. 7. Trained by Larry Dagg, Whatshername probably will battle for the early lead in the Matron under rider Duncan Gordon.

Con's Night Flight rallied from last place to win the restricted Manitoba Distaff last time out. Trained by Brian Slater, she once again will be coming from well off the pace under jockey Robert May.

Trainer Ardell Sayler sends out Danceprincessdance, who beat conditioned claimers in her most recent outing but has failed to finish ahead of Miss Sandy Dee in three attempts this year. Jacques DesAutels will ride.

Polka Tune and Farrmost, third and fourth, respectively, in the Manitoba Distaff, round out the field.

*Smoky Cinder and Kalfaari head a list of eight nominees to the $35,000 Gold Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and upward here closing day, Sept. 30.

Also next Sunday is the $40,000 Winnipeg Futurity. The one-mile race for 2-year-olds has attracted 10 nominees, with Ness Godall leading the local contingent.