Slam Cat figures sharp off of last

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Slam Cat gives up experience to most of her rivals Wednesday in a first-level allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn, but what she lacks there she makes up for in raw talent. Slam Cat's natural abilities were on display last month, when she won a six-furlong maiden special weight in a razor-sharp 1:10.80. The win came in her second career start, and for the effort she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

"She's a very good filly with a lot of upside," said Tim Ritchey, who trains Slam Cat for Woodslane Farm. "She has a lot of potential."

Slam Cat should go favored in Wednesday's race, a six-furlong sprint that has a $50,000 claiming option. There are six fillies in the field, including three-time winner Kinsey and the stakes-experienced Wild Oration.

Slam Cat, a daughter of Grand Slam, made her career debut Feb. 5 at Oaklawn. She dueled over a track rated good and missed by a neck to earn a 77 Beyer.

"One of the other speed horses backed up, and she kept going and almost won the race," Ritchey said.

Slam Cat graduated one start later, on Feb. 26, at Oaklawn. The margin of victory was a neck, but the manner in which the win was achieved was with something in reserve.

"I don't think it took a lot out of her," Ritchey said of the maiden score. "And the horse that was second won pretty easily the other day going long. It may end up being a pretty good key race. She should run very forward off of it."

Glowing Report, the runner-up to Slam Cat, took a maiden special weight by 2 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn on March 19. As for Slam Cat, she will break from the rail Wednesday under Calvin Borel.

"Being inside, you've got to send a little bit and get some position," Ritchey said.

Kinsey was a winner at a similar level in her last start, her third career victory from nine races. She could get a tracking trip from post 2. Corey Nakatani has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Wild Oration was third to Kinsey last out, when cutting back from a two-turn stakes start at Oaklawn. She could stalk the pace from post 4. Trainer Scott Becker has given the mount to Chris Emigh.