She Says It Best sharp coming into Bassinet

She Says It Best, a seven-length winner of the Aug. 20 Fisher Debutante at Ellis Park, will be gunning for her fourth victory in five career starts when she starts as the likely favorite Saturday in the $100,000 Bassinet Stakes at River Downs.

Vickie Foley, trainer of She Says It Best, said the two-week span between the Debutante and Bassinet is not a major concern, nor is the turnback from seven to six furlongs.

"She came out of the race good, and after speaking with my partners, we felt like it'd be a good spot to be in," said Foley, who owns the filly with Carl Bowling and a large Louisville-based syndicate managed by Bill Malone. "That last race didn't seem to take anything out of her. She did it pretty easily."

She Says It Best, with Craig Perret to ride, drew the rail in a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered in the six-furlong Bassinet, which kicks off easily the best weekend of the River Downs summer meet. The Monday card features the track's showcase race, the $200,000 Cradle Stakes. On Sunday, the Cincinnati track will host a benefit for paralyzed jockey Gary Birzer.

The only defeat for She Says It Best, a Florida-bred by Stormy Atlantic, came July 9 in the Debutante Stakes at her home track, Churchill Downs. Otherwise, she has led all the way in three wins. Foley said She Says It Best is quick enough that she should be able to contend throughout in the Bassinet, even with the move back to six furlongs.

"After the Bassinet, we definitely want to consider stretching her out," said Foley.

From the rail out, the field for the Bassinet is She Says It Best, Somethinaboutbetty, Dixie Dreamer, Terri's Charmer, Readyforcocktails, Friends of Bertie, and High Heritage.

Readyforcocktails, trained by Steve Asmussen, is unbeaten in two starts. Her most recent win came as the odds-on favorite in the Aug. 14 Bassinet prep.

Meanwhile, the top 2-year-olds in the prospective field for the Cradle will be shipping in from Churchill: Dawn of War, Laity, Key West Breeze, Rocket Beauty, and Spotsgone.

Dawn of War, trained by Dale Romans, won the Aug. 13 prep for the 1 1/16-mile Cradle by two lengths over the top local hope, Acts Like a King. Dawn of War figures to vie for favoritism with Key West Breeze, who was second as the odds-on favorite in his last race, the Colin Stakes at Woodbine.

The 2004 Cradle was won by Bellamy Road, the colt who was the Kentucky Derby favorite and most recently ran second in the Travers.