Perhaps a Pie cuts back to a sprint in Sunday feature

Perhaps a Pie showed her versatility when she led every step of the way going 1 1/8 miles in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap on Aug. 14. She doesn’t have enough speed to make the lead in an optional $40,000 claiming race for fillies and mares that will serve as the featured race at Emerald Downs on Sunday.

She can stalk, however, and with a hot pace expected in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, which drew six horses, she could get up in time in what appears to be a wide-open race.

Trained by Chris Stenslie, Perhaps a Pie paid $42.40 for her neck win over Chronologic’sghost in Emerald’s richest race for fillies and mares. Following instructions from Stenslie, jockey Eswan Flores gunned Perhaps a Pie to the lead, where she was uncontested early while setting moderate fractions.

“She was coming from the 1 hole, and I knew there wasn’t a lot of speed in the race,” Stenslie said in a post-race interview.

Perhaps a Pie can sprint, and following a fifth-place finish going 1 1/8 miles in the Washington Oaks last year, she won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race for 3-year-old fillies.

Perhaps a Pie drew the rail, with Flores retaining the mount.

Her win in the Distaff epitomized how weak the older filly and mare division at Emerald is this year. The four open stakes in the division were won by different horses. One of the winners, Guinevere’s Finale, will break from post 5 with Javier Matias aboard.

Trained by David Martinez, Guinevere’s Finale took advantage of a fast and contested pace to win the $50,000 Boeing but was victimized by the slow fractions when she finished fourth in the Distaff.

Her two wins at the meet prior to the Boeing came in $25,000 claiming races going six furlongs and a mile.

Speed will be provided by the 3-year-old filly E Z Star Maker, who is coming off a 7 1/2-length romp in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race for trainer Howard Gibson on Aug. 7.

KEY CONTENDERS

Perhaps a Pie, by Tale of Ekati

Last 3 Beyers: 84-69-54

◗ As evidenced by her sharp five-furlong work last Sunday, the versatile 4-year-old appears to be on edge for another big effort.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Stenslie has a 24 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint.

E Z Star Maker, by He’s Tops

Last 2 Beyers: 80-55

◗ She took a huge step forward in her second start and could be gone if she clears early.

Curly Girly, by Tannersmyman

Last 3 Beyers: 70-76-78

◗ Freshened since she finished fifth in the Boeing, the five-time sprint winner trained by Larry Ross could get a perfect trip from a stalking position.