Sassy Sarah should like distance

CALGARY, Alberta On a program liberally dotted with races for maidens, Sassy Sarahs eight wins stand out here at Stampede Park on Friday. A 5-year-old Lake Austin mare, Sassy Sarah heads a field of 10 in the featured seventh race, an optional $40,000 claimer which is by far the most appealing sprint on the eight-race card.

Sassy Sarah will appreciate the stretch-out to six furlongs following a solid second-place effort at four furlongs here on opening weekend. She drew post 3.

Trainer Ron Grieves worked Sassy Sarah back a solid four furlongs here on Tuesday, the morning of entries for the $20,200 feature, and all systems appear go for her. She is the morning-line favorite.

Regular rider Real Simard is aboard Sassy Sarah, a front-runner who shares high weight of 122 pounds with Shes Twenty Below.

Shes Twenty Below exits the same prep race as Sassy Sarah and worked back five furlongs here on March 30 for trainer Doug Ladouceur Jr.

A 5-year-old gray mare, Shes Twenty Below captured two allowance races here last spring. She breaks from post 6 on Friday under Stephan Heiler.

The Cashew Queen got good here last spring, winning three claiming races, and has trained forwardly for her seasonal debut. She drew post 8 with Rico Walcott up.

Serafina Lady, who has been training at Hastings, makes her local debut.