Seeking Angels set for stakes debut in Rainbow Miss Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Seeking Angels made a statement in her career debut in February, rolling by 6 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight sprint. She gets her first shot at stakes company Saturday at Oaklawn in the $100,000 Rainbow Miss, and trainer Bill Martin is looking forward to seeing how Seeking Angels handles the task against her fellow 3-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas.

“The maiden race, I was real impressed,” Martin said. “She was showing coming into the race she was a nice filly, and when we ran her, she showed that she was.”

The six-furlong Rainbow Miss drew a field of nine. Others set to start include Brooke’s a Bookin, a stakes winner at Delta Downs who faced older rivals last out at Oaklawn, and Avisionofchocolate, who was stakes-placed at Woodbine at age 2.

Rainbow Miss (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Seeking Angels, by Bob and John
Beyers: 68-68

◗ Seeking Angels will be making her third start Saturday. She is moving back into Arkansas-bred company after a runner-up finish against open company in a first-level allowance Feb. 26 at Oaklawn. The effort came following her maiden win Feb. 5.

“Going into this race here, she’s had plenty of time and a real easy work,” said Martin. “I feel like she’s fresh, and I feel like she’ll run good.”

◗ Martin and his brother, Joe Martin, co-own Seeking Angels with her breeder, Dan W. White. They bought a half-interest in the filly, and Bill Martin said he has found her to be one of the classiest runners he’s trained.

“She’s real calm; nothing really excites her,” Martin said. “At this stage, she’s showing to be a nice filly.”

◗ Seeking Angels will break from post 4 under Walter De La Cruz.

“She’s just kind of natural speed,” said Martin. “She’s pretty universal. She’ll do whatever you want to do. She’ll rate. I’m hoping she’ll lay close.”

Avisionofchocolate, by J Be K
Last 3 Beyers: 66-64-53

◗ She was a debut winner last May, taking a maiden special weight at Parx. One start later, she finished second in the $125,000 My Dear at Woodbine.

◗ More recently, Avisionofchocolate won a first-level allowance over statebreds at Oaklawn, getting up for a three-quarter-length win Feb. 25. She was turning back from a mile for the six-furlong race and added blinkers.

◗ Jon Court has the mount for Jean Zehnder and trainer Jinks Fires.