Shippers clash in Casey head-scratcher

How well do medium-priced claimers who have been facing open company out of town fit in a stakes race restricted to West Virginia-breds at Charles Town?

That's a key question for handicappers trying to figure out the most likely winner of the $45,000 Eleanor Casey Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Light Up the City, who beat $25,000 claimers two starts ago at Laurel Park, and Attention Deficit, who won her maiden for a $50,000 tag at Delaware almost four months ago, bring the best Beyers into the race.

If Shesdebonairness is a good barometer, then Light Up the City may not fit well in this spot. Shesdebonairness is back to take another shot at Light Up the City after finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind her at Laurel. One start prior to that, Shesdebonairness was noncompetitive in a 4 1/2-furlong restricted stakes at Charles Town.

Locally based We're in the Money, a three-time stakes winner in short sprints, will try to make amends after finishing second carrying 128 pounds as the even-money favorite when stretched out to seven furlongs for last month's Tri-State Futurity.

Veiled Reference, winner of a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs last time out, and Megan's Mission, who improved her Beyers each time she has raced and comes out of a win in open first-level allowance company at the Casey distance, also merit consideration.