Smitty's Sunshine to hit road again

Smitty's Sunshine, who picked up her fifth straight win last month in the $111,000 Mamzelle at Churchill Downs, has returned to her Louisiana Downs base and is now being pointed for the $100,000 Distaff Turf Sprint Handicap at Calder Race Course. The five-furlong turf race is part of the track's Summit of Speed program on July 7.

"That's her distance," said her trainer, Morris Nicks.

Smitty's Sunshine has won all three of her starts at five furlongs on turf. She won her maiden at the trip last June at Louisiana Downs, as well as two stakes at Churchill. In the Mamzelle, she won by 2 1/4 lengths, and the performance was one of her best, said Nicks.

"She looked like she stepped up," he said. "It just looked like she did it with more confidence. She just got out there and had fun."

Smitty's Sunshine began her current win streak in a $35,000 optional claimer at Louisiana Downs last October. She proceeded to win the $116,000 Pent Up Kiss at Churchill in November, then the $100,000 A.B. Leggio Memorial in January and the $100,000 Bienville in March, both at about 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Fair Grounds.

Smitty's Sunshine, a Louisiana-bred, is one of three turf stakes winners Nicks has pointing for upcoming races. Carolina Sky, who won two major turf stakes last year at Louisiana Downs, will run Monday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board Handicap at Lone Star Park. She won the prep for that race, the $60,000 Irving Distaff, in her last start April 28.

Then there is Northern Scene, who won a five-way photo by a head in an optional claimer on turf on May 11. It was his first out since February.

Northern Scene is being pointed to the $50,000 Barksdale Handicap at Louisiana Downs on June 23. He won this one-mile turf race in 2006.

* On Friday, Nicks has two turf starters, both in maiden races. Gone Dixie makes her debut in the race 2, for 2-year-old fillies at five furlongs. Mighty Fine Gal is a top contender in the 10th, a one-mile race for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares.

o The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Sales Co. will conduct a yearling sale Oct. 1 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport. Deadline for consignments is July 13.