Sarasponda rounding into form

Sarasponda will try to remain unbeaten at Beulah when she faces five other Ohio-accredited fillies and mares in the $50,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap. Trained by Joe Shuman, Sarasponda is 2 for 2 at Beulah, having won the John W. Galbreath and Glacial Princess here in 2007. The Galbreath was contested at the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Bricker.

Sarasponda looks to be rounding into form, even though she is winless in four starts this year. After finishing fourth in the Best of Ohio Distaff on Oct. 4, she finished second in an optional claiming race at Thistledown. Her come-from-behind running style should work well in the Bricker, as there is plenty of early speed to set up her late run. Christian Pilares retains the mount.

Money Card is the highweight in the race and concedes four to nine pounds to her rivals. She won the Bricker last year when it was run at Thistledown. Trained by Shirley Girten-Drake, Money Card came back from a nearly three-month layoff to win a claiming race at Mountaineer Park on Oct. 20 before finishing fifth in the Scarlet and Gray on Nov. 1. Both of those races were at six furlongs.