More Than Even back from layoff in Wilma Mankiller Memorial

More Than Even will attempt to improve her Will Rogers Downs record to 5 for 6 on Monday, when she takes on a gaggle of Oaklawn Park invaders in the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller Memorial. Fictionality, Lil Super Bear, and Teardrop are all making their first starts at Will Rogers Downs, near Tulsa, Okla., after competing in races in Hot Springs, Ark.

The Wilma Mankiller opens the eight-race stakes schedule at Will Rogers. The six-furlong race drew seven fillies and mares. Others making up the field include Beau Ravelle, an optional-claiming winner at Delta Downs, and stakes winners Stormquility and Lesley Be Judged.

More Than Even is a four-time stakes winner, among those victories the $55,000 Classic Distaff Sprint last April at Will Rogers.

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KEY CONTENDERS

More Than Even (Last 3 Beyers: 86-78-79)

◗ She will be making her first start since November and has had success off the layoff in the past. More Than Even won an optional claimer at Remington Park in September following a break of more than two months.

◗ More Than Even has won three of her last four starts, all at Remington Park. Overall, the 5-year-old mare has 11 wins from 26 starts for earnings of $343,768.

◗ Her trainer, Roger Engel, is off to a superior start at Will Rogers. Engel has won 12 races from 18 starts for a 67 percent strike rate in Tulsa.

◗ Cliff Berry is in from Oaklawn to ride More Than Even, who races for her breeder, Doyle Williams.

◗ More Than Even, who will break from post 4, might get a stalking trip behind Beau Ravelle and Teardrop.

Teardrop (Last 3 Beyers: 77-75-64)

◗ Teardrop brings a good deal of pedigree into the Wilma Mankiller as she seeks her first stakes win. She is a daughter of Tapit and out of the same mare as Pyro, a Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $1.6 million. In addition, Teardrop is a full sister to War Echo, a Grade 3 winner and earner of more than $280,000.

◗ Teardrop has been racing at Oaklawn, where she won a first-level allowance sprint for older fillies and mares Feb. 12. In her other start at the meet, she was second by 1 3/4 lengths in a second-level allowance. The winner of that race, Steel Cut, was to vie for her fifth straight win in a Saturday allowance at Oaklawn.

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.