'Passion' set for top effort

Gamblers Passion may prove the one to beat in a wide-open field of six Iowa-bred fillies and mares in Saturday's $65,000 Mamie Eisenhower Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Gamblers Passion returned from a six-month layoff and finished second, beaten two lengths by Camela Carson, in a six-furlong allowance for statebreds on April 21. Gamblers Passion, who captured two stakes at Prairie Meadows last summer, figures to move forward and should get a good stalking trip in the six-furlong Eisenhower under jockey Joel Campbell.

Overall, Gamblers Passion sports a record of 10-5-2 from 30 starts, good for $219,537 in earnings.

The Kelly Von Hemel-trained Camela Carson could well be the favorite. She defeated four of the five rivals she faces Saturday three weeks ago.

Camela Carson, seeking her first stakes win, has missed the exacta only once in her past 10 starts. Perry Compton will again ride Camela Carson, the 123-pound highweight.

Switch Lanes was a multiple stakes winner last summer for Prairie Meadows's leading trainer Dick Clark, but she finished last of six, beaten 9 3/4 lengths by Camela Carson, as the 7-5 favorite in her lone start this year and has only one win in her last seven starts. Glenn Corbett has a return call.

Indiana: Free Bonus back to defend

Defending champion Free Bonus faces seven Indiana-bred fillies and mares in the $40,000 Shelby County Stakes at Indiana Downs.

Free Bonus went on a seven-race losing streak following her 2 1/2-length score in this race last season. She returned to Indiana Downs on April 29 and scored a gate-to-wire three-quarter-length victory over open allowance company at six furlongs.

The 4-year-old Free Bonus, trained by David Norris, is undefeated in three starts on the Indiana Downs main track and has recorded two bullet works over the track since her most recent victory. Joe Stokes picks up the mount aboard Free Bonus, the 123-pound highweight under the allowance conditions of the six-furlong Shelby County. Free Bonus is coupled in the wagering with Moros Fantastic.

Overall, Free Bonus sports a record of 7-0-1 from 17 career starts, good for $127,720 in earnings.

Slim Justice looms the main danger to Free Bonus. Slim Justice rallied to score a three-quarter-length victory over statebred allowance company on April 29 going 5 1/2 furlongs. Slim Justice looks to be improving and drew the outside post, which should lead to a good stalking trip. Inocencio Diego will ride Slim Justice at 116 pounds.