Preservata as sharp as they come

There's a new queen of the castle at Assiniboia Downs, and her name is Preservata. Undefeated in five local appearances, including her three starts this year, Preservata will be looking to extend her streak when she faces just four rivals in Saturday's $30,000 Winnipeg Sun.

Preservata's successes this year include the six-furlong La Verendrye and the one-mile Canada Day, and she will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles to face fillies and mares in the Winnipeg Sun. Preservata came flying late to just get up by a neck in the Canada Day under Tyrone Nelson, who will be looking for his third consecutive stakes win with the 4-year-old.

Owned and trained by Clint Willson, Preservata is the highweight under 123 pounds, the same impost she carried in the Canada Day, and will begin from post 4.

Talkin Money Honey, runner-up in the Canada Day in a wake-up effort at almost 20-1, will be looking to turn the tables under leading rider Larren Delorme. Trained by Ardell Sayler, Talkin Money Honey ran third in last year's Canada Day behind Polynesian Kitty and Turn It Up, but faltered to finish fifth in the Winnipeg Sun.

Polynesian Kitty defends her Winnipeg Sun title Saturday. The champion older filly or mare in Manitoba last year, she romped by seven lengths last year but has yet to put her best foot forward in three starts this season. Sayler has taken over as Polynesian Kitty's conditioner this year, and the 5-year-old finished fifth in the Canada Day, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Rohan Singh will ride Polynesian Kitty for the first time on Saturday.

At First Glance and Britannia Road also finished close up as the third- and fourth-place runners in the July 1 Canada Day. Alan Cuthbertson, who has been Polynesian Kitty's regular rider, replaces Carlos Marquez aboard At First Glance. Britannia Road, runner-up in last year's 1 1/8-mile Matron, will have her usual pilot Tim Gardiner in the irons.