Premier Star sticks out after last-race romp

Premier Star seeks her second consecutive stakes win in the one-mile R.C. Anderson, the $50,000 feature for Manitoba-bred 3-year-old fillies at Assiniboia Downs on Friday evening.

The eight-race card also includes the $30,000 Debutante, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies which trainer Charlie Smith will attempt to win for the third straight time.

Premier Star, owned by Equinox Stable and trained by Tanya Lindsday, won first crack out but then finished last of six in an open first-level allowance for fillies and mares on June 17.

That race served its purpose, however, as Premier Star swung back nine days later and was a 17 3/4-length winner of the restricted Hazel Wright, which drew only three entrants and was run as an exhibition race.

Carlos Marquez retains the mount on Premier Star. Her nine rivals include Adventcia, who has run into the streaking Lady Countdown in her last two starts.

Adventcia finished third on the first occasion, beaten 3 1/4 lengths in the six-furlong Debutante, and then weakened to be beaten 17 lengths in an open allowance over 7 1/2 furlongs.

Morsel, who returned to finish second when facing males in the Harry Jeffrey, and Jakes Lady Luck, the Chantilly runner-up, were the two-three finishers in that June 24 allowance race.

Adventcia should relish this cutback in distance and softer company.

Mark Anderson, who has ridden Adventcia in each of her five starts, retains the mount.

Smith, who is based at Canterbury Park, sent out Lady Countdown and Miss Missile to win the last two runnings of the Debutante.

This year, Smith will field three of the seven entrants in Ruby's Big Band, Rule of Twelfths, and Party Treats.

Ruby's Big Band and Rule of Twelfths were both second-out winners in five-furlong races at Canterbury, while Party Treats is a maiden after two outings.

Rohan Singh, Smith's go-to rider here, gets the call on Ruby's Band, while Anderson rides Rule of Twelfths and Gary Baze will be aboard Party Treats.

No Maddy and Honorable Lady, each a winner of her only outing at Assiniboia Downs, will be looking to hold off the invaders.