Sweet Idea goes for first grass win

Sweet Idea will be moving back to turf for the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, which drew a competitive field of nine. She has made three career starts on the grass, with her best showing a runner-up finish in the $60,000 Lone Star Oaks, when she was beaten a head by Aly's Vow.

Sweet Idea won the $75,000 Martanza on dirt in her first start of the Sam Houston meet Dec. 2, then came back and won the $25,000 Space City in her next start, Dec. 16. In her most recent outing, she was fourth in the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff on Jan. 27.

"I don't think she cared for the off going that day," said Bret Calhoun, who trains Sweet Idea.

Sweet Idea will break from post 2 under Quincy Hamilton. She has a number of rivals she could stalk in the Jersey Village.

"She's pretty versatile, I think," said Calhoun. "She's run up close several times, and she's dropped off of it and come through and won on several occasions. I don't think it really matters to her."

The chief threat could be Wild Encounter, who won four consecutive turf races between October and December, among them a dead-heat win in the $50,000 San Jacinto at Sam Houston. Trainer Michelle Lovell has given the mount to Roimes Chirinos.