A Sea Trippi capable of turning the tables

MIAMI - A Sea Trippi has not been able to handle Stolen Prayer in the past. Whether history will repeat itself Saturday is the question that must be answered when Stolen Prayer and A Sea Trippi top a field of seven fillies and mares in Calder's $100,000 U Can Do It Handicap at 6o1/2 furlongs.

A Sea Trippi finished sixth, nearly a dozen lengths behind Stolen Prayer, in the Ema Bovary Stakes on June 10 and even farther behind that rival last winter in Gulfstream Park's Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes. But A Sea Trippi, the defending U Can Do It champ trained by Ronnie Spatz, is much improved since those two meetings, and Stolen Prayer's trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr., acknowledges that A Sea Trippi is the one to beat on Saturday.

"I know Ronnie's filly is coming around and she's a very tough horse," Plesa said. "But my filly is coming off a very good work, couldn't be training better, so I like where we're at for this race."

Stolen Prayer dominated both the Ema Bovary and Kimscountry-

diamond overnight stakes during the spring, performances which earned her a chance to run for some big money in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap and Distaff Turf Sprint Championship Handicap. Stolen Prayer finished ninth behind River's Prayer and Shaggy Mane in the Princess Rooney, and fifth, beaten less than three lengths, in the Turf Sprint Championship.

"She tried very hard and didn't disgrace herself in either race," said Plesa. "Obviously I'd rather not be carrying 123 pounds on Saturday, but you pay for your past sins in this business, and she's won carrying that much before."

A Sea Trippi, who will carry 121 pounds, has bounced back from a slow start this season to post a pair of easy wins, including a three-length triumph in the seven-furlong Barbs Dancer.

"We haven't been able to handle Eddie's horse in the past, but I couldn't be happier with her last two races and I think 6 1/2 furlongs is her best distance, so hopefully things will be different this time," said Spatz.

Annabill, Songofthesouth, and Secretsoftheheart, second, third, and fourth behind A Sea Trippi in the Barbs Dancer, will try to turn the tables on Saturday.