Pimlico: Richetta tries turf

The multiple-stakes-winning filly Richetta has never raced on grass or faced males in her career. But she still looks formidable in Saturday's $75,000 Humphrey S. Finney, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for Maryland-bred 3-year-olds at Pimlico.

The five colts and geldings Richetta will face in the Finney are an undistinguished group. None of her rivals has even run in a stakes. The only one to finish first in a non-claiming race is Please Smile, who won a first-level allowance at Penn National.

In comparison, Richetta comes off back-to-back Beyer Speed Figures of 91 and 90 in dirt stakes - far superior to her competition - and has a high Tomlinson rating of 354 for turf.

"I've been trying to get her on the grass," trainer Robin Graham said of Richetta, the 3-5 favorite on the track's morning line.