Princess Composer inherits favorite's role

The failure of two-time defending champion My Sweet Sug to draw in from the also-eligible list has made Monday's $45,000 Florence Henderson Stakes at Indiana Downs a little more wide open.

From the 15 originally entered, 12 statebred fillies and mares made the cut to run in the about one mile turf race. Among those excluded was My Sweet Sug, whose inactivity since her win in the 2006 Florence Henderson left her without sufficient earnings to be given preference for entry based on the race's conditions.

Favoritism instead will likely fall on Princess Composer, a winner in 7 of 10 starts this year, including her last four, which have been by a combined margin of more than 22 lengths. Among her victories during the streak was a 4 1/4-length romp in a first-level allowance in her turf debut on May 22.

Easy Tee, a recent starter allowance winner over soft turf at Arlington, also figures to be well supported, and might be the one to fear if the race is rained off the turf. Her last start against statebred company resulted in a win in the Frances Slocum last November over a muddy Hoosier Park strip.

The 3-year-old Amature's Prize, recent winner of the First Lady Stakes over the Indiana Downs turf, will need to improve several lengths to beat the two favorites. Free Bonus and President's Woman, the second- and third-place finishers in the 2006 Henderson, will figure prominently on their best form.