Statebreds clash in pair of $75,000 stakes

Extra Sexy Psychic, who was good enough last year to run second to recent Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell, returns from an extended layoff Thursday night at Penn National Race Course.

Idle since winning a first-level allowance at Delaware Park last Sept. 12, Extra Sexy Psychic will face 10 other Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-old fillies in the first of two $75,000 stakes on a nine-race card.

The Wonders Delight, which goes as race 2 at six furlongs, will represent Extra Sexy Psychic's first race against restricted company. Trained by Maryland-based Mike Trombetta, she won 2 of 4 starts at 2 and was runner-up to Proud Spell in an overnight stakes at Delaware last August.

The race also marks the 3-year-old debut of Driving by Winning. Based at Philadelphia Park with trainer Kathleen DeMasi, Driven by Winning won her first start and then set the pace before weakening in the final furlong of a six-furlong statebred stakes. She has prepped for her first start since Dec. 1 with three consecutive bullet workouts.

A full field of 3-year-old colts and geldings, led by Double Down Vinman, will contest the six-furlong Danzig in race 3.

Double Down Vinman, a beaten favorite in three of his last four starts, exits two extremely fast sprints. He was a close third, earning an 89 Beyer Speed Figure, in a minor stakes over Aqueduct's inner track in March and second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in a second-level optional $35,000 claimer at Philly Park last time out, earning an 82 Beyer.

His main rivals appear to be Justiceanfortitude, who comes back just 11 days after finishing second in a first-level allowance, and Balian, who cuts back to a sprint after two routes in which he was either on the lead or within a length of the leader after the first six furlongs.