Satans Quick Chick tries dirt

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Trainer Eric Reed will test graded stakes winner Satans Quick Chick in a big way Saturday when he runs the 4-year-old filly on a dirt track for the first time in the $65,000 Manatee Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Satans Quick Chick won the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes on the Polytrack at Keeneland in October to cap off a successful 3-year-old campaign in which she won 4 of 8 starts. Seven of her nine starts have come over synthetic surfaces, but with few stakes opportunities available over synthetic tracks during the winter, Reed decided it was time to try Satans Quick Chick on dirt.

"It's a big gamble," Reed said by phone Thursday, "but there aren't too many spots for her on synthetics until April and we were going to have to race her on dirt sooner or later, so we figured the Manatee's a good spot."

Reed is cautiously optimistic because Satans Quick Chick has posted three bullet works since shipping to Tampa, including a blistering half-mile in 46.40 seconds Dec. 16 and a five-furlong move of 1:00 on Jan. 12.

"Actually she's taken to the track better than we expected," Reed said. "We're just hoping it's nice and tight Saturday. She seems to like it when it's tight or wet."

While Satans Quick Chick will garner a good bit of public support in the seven-furlong Manatee, the 14-horse field has several other contenders, topped by Perf, who is looking for her third straight local win and fourth victory in a row. Perf has rallied from off the pace to take both the Minaret Stakes and an optional claimer at six furlongs, and figures to be even more comfortable at the longer distance of the Manatee.

Rising Fever, who was impressive winning last year's Manatee, makes her first start since June. Trained by Christophe Clement, Rising Fever has never finished worse than second in 11 career starts while splitting her time between the U.S. and her native Brazil. She is a versatile type who has can close from off the pace or use her tactical speed to be close early.

In a race without much speed, Lady Alexander drew the rail and can be expected to be a pace presence. She led into the stretch of the Minaret in her local debut last time out as the favorite.

Kiddari, from the barn of Bill Mott, returns to a sprint for her 4-year-old debut.