More Than Pretty's odds drop

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Horseplayers have a clever saying for what frequently occurs when a horse makes its first start after having scored at a big mutuel. "I missed the wedding, then went to the funeral," the adage goes.

Such wit may apply to the Friday feature at Churchill Downs, where a filly named More Than Pretty will make her first start since winning the May 13 Open Mind Stakes at 19-1. There is one certainty: More Than Pretty will be a considerably shorter price when facing just five other 3-year-old fillies - including three she defeated in the Open Mind - in the sixth of 11 Friday races, a five-furlong turf race that sports wide-open allowance conditions and a $70,000 purse.

, owned by Dr. Naveed Chowhan and trained by Bernie Flint, had a somewhat curious but ultimately successful trip when capturing the Open Mind. After breaking sharpest among the 10-horse field, the filly was eased well off the early pace by jockey Calvin Borel while saving ground. Turning for home, Borel angled her into a clear lane, and More Than Pretty responded with her third and richest career victory.

Borel has the mount back Friday, when More Than Pretty will break from the outside post.

, who had no apparent excuse when finishing eighth as the even-money favorite for trainer Bill Mott in the Open Mind, is among the more capable challengers who will try to prevent More Than Pretty from racing to a repeat score Friday. Serena's Cat, a $1.4 million purchase whose second dam is the great Serena's Song, had a three-race win streak snapped in the Open Mind, having won a maiden race last September at Belmont, then back-to-back turf allowances at Gulfstream over the winter. Robby Albarado has a return call on Serena's Cat.

Also returning from the Open Mind are , who made a belated run to finish sixth, beaten less than two lengths, and High Heritage, who chased all the pace when finishing seventh, just a neck behind Dramatic Style. High Heritage, a main-track allowance winner on the April 28 closing-day card at Keeneland, also is trained by Flint.

Completing the field are Beau Dare, who seeks her first win since the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies last September, and C K Given, who makes her turf debut.

The card also includes two $54,000 allowances (races 8 and 10) and a starter-allowance sprint (race 9). First post is 2:45 p.m. Eastern.