Stallion Heiress starting to become a pro

The 3-year-old filly Stallion Heiress is unbeaten in three starts after winning the $50,000 Allen “Black Cat” Lacombe Memorial on Saturday by 3 1/2 lengths. Stallion Heiress got an 84 Beyer Speed Figure, two points lower than in her 7 1/4-length win Feb. 11 in the Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial, but trainer Mike Stidham was pleased with Stallion Heiress’s more mature performance Saturday.

“I like to see that she was able to control her speed a little better, look a little more professional doing it, and when they came to her, she was able to kick in and pull away,” Stidham said. “Those horses that have to open eight or 10 lengths aren’t always that reliable.”

Stidham said Stallion Heiress came out of her race in good shape and probably will be pointed to the Appalachian Stakes next month at Keeneland. Longer-term goals include the Edgewood at Churchill Downs in May and races later this year in Canada since Stallion Heiress is an Ontario-bred.

As for Stidham, he is changing his operation this year. Normally a summer fixture at Arlington, Stidham will have only 15 to 20 horses there this year, he said. He has leased a 38-stall barn at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and has 50 stalls at Delaware Park.