Princess Composer targets a repeat

Princess Composer, a winner of 5 races from 6 starts this year, returns to defend her title in the $50,000 Florence Henderson Stakes as she heads a field of 10 older Indiana-bred fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes Friday evening.

The top-three finishers from last year's edition of this race will meet again, with Easy Tee and Amature's Prize also in the field.

Princess Composer has put together a sensational season for trainer Rebecca McGee. A 6-year-old daughter of Composer, she took the Fairway Fun Stakes at Turfway Park in late March and has been unstoppable in her two starts here this season. The only blemish on her record came at Keeneland, when she finished second against $10,000 starter allowance company.

Princess Composer defeated fillies here in the Indiana Downs Starter Handicap by more than five lengths and then defeated males in the fourth leg of the Don K. Memorial Starter Handicap, her most recent start. Both of those races were switched off the turf to the main track, but she is proven on grass, with 3 wins from 4 career starts. Regular rider Jose Camejo will be aboard from post 10.

Amature's Prize has been off since a good fourth at Churchill Downs on May 17 against $80,000 optional claiming company for trainer Michael Lauer. Last year, Amature's Prize took the First Lady Stakes here on turf, then ran a good third to Princess Composer in this race as a 3-year-old facing older rivals.

Easy Tee will be making her first appearance at Indiana Downs this year. She was second against top-level allowance company over Arlington Park's turf course on May 15, then traveled to Prairie Meadows where she was fourth in the Wild Rose Stakes. Trainer Michael Reavis has Emanuel Cosme named to ride from post 4.