Philadelphia: 'Gloom' tries stakes

, unbeaten in four starts this season since returning from a 13-month layoff, will face stakes company for the first time in the $50,000 Pistol Packer Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares at Philadelphia Park.

Unraced until June of her 3-year-old season, Immune to Gloom was claimed out of her career debut for $40,000 in June 2004. She didn't make her first start for new trainer Tim Ritchey until July 2005, when she defeated maiden special weight company in a sprint.

The now 4-year-old Immune to Gloom has since cleared her first three allowance conditions, all going two turns against open company at Delaware Park, while steadily increasing her Beyer Speed Figures.

Immune to Gloom will challenge , a 5-year-old mare trained by Keith Lebarron. Racing exlusively in sprints this season, Valley of the Gods dominated statebred competition in the seven-furlong Ambassador of Luck Handicap in late July and most recently finished a close second against open company in the seven-furlong Steve Van Buren on Labor Day.

Mae and Rae steps up in class after crushing starter allowance horses in her last two starts. Since she was claimed for $6,250 in June by trainer Robert Reid, the 5-year-old Mae and Rae has won four times and finished second by a neck in six starts.