No shortage of contenders in Golden Poppy

With two-time race winner Central Heat still on the sidelines, Saturday’s $50,000 Golden Poppy looks like a wide-open race, with 11 fillies and mares signed up for the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes.

There may not be an odds-on favorite Saturday, as there was last year with Central Heat, but the race has plenty of quality.

Among the top contenders are Lady Valeur, who won the Miss America here in December in a race moved from turf to the main track and then ran third in the Grade 1 American Oaks on turf later than month; Qiaona, a 7-year-old who finished second in the Campanile here at 3 and won an optional claimer on turf here last year; and Peach Cove, a stakes winner in her native New Zealand who won an optional claimer on turf at Santa Anita in January.

Sweet Dragon Fly won a handicap in England last year and comes off an optional-claiming victory on the Santa Anita turf. My Heart Goes On is a two-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs who is making her turf debut in the Golden Poppy. Dreamarcher, fourth in the American Oaks last December, won the Wine Country on turf at Santa Rosa last summer. Street Surrender comes into the race with three straight wins but never has run in a stakes and has raced on turf only once.

As for Central Heat, she’s been off since October and is working for her return.

Golden Poppy, Race 7

Key Contenders

Qiaona, by Wilko

Last 3 Beyers: 75-74-86

◗ She ran second in a sprint on the main track here April 8 following eight months on the sidelines.

◗ Abel Cedillo, the meet’s leading rider, takes the mount.

Lady Valeur, by Multiplex

Last 3 Beyers: 87-91-74

◗ Wrapped up 2016 with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 91 when third, beaten a half-length, in the American Oaks.

◗ Showed little in finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita last month in her comeback, but she still earned the field’s highest last-race Beyer.

◗ Ricardo Gonzalez won aboard her in the Miss America and has the mount in this spot.

Peach Cove, by Buffalo Man

Last 3 Beyers: 84-80-77

◗ She is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella.

◗ She has only four works since her last start March 3.

◗ A stalker, she should be able to get a good position from post 10.