Sweet Talker strong in Dahlia

In her first start in six months and first for new trainer Graham Motion, Sweet Talker had little trouble leaving 11 fillies and mares in her wake in the $85,000 Dahlia Stakes, Saturday's closing-day feature at Laurel Park.

Previously trained by Ken McPeek and then his former assistant Helen Pitts, Sweet Talker upset Keeneland's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup as an 18-1 longshot last October, in her final start of 2005. She was no longshot in the Dahlia: Despite the long vacation, Sweet Talker was bet down to 4-5 favoritism in the one-mile turf race.

She made it look about that easy. A 4-year-old daughter of Stormin Fever ridden by Ramon Dominguez, Sweet Talker settled in fourth place a path off the rail, tracking the 50-1 shot Ernabel through fractions of 23.05 seconds, 47.36, and 1:11.17 for six furlongs. Sweet Talker took over at the top of the stretch and didn't give any of the late runners an opportunity, leaving the rallying Grade 3 winner Smart N Classy 1 1/2 lengths back in second. Humoristic was another half-length back in third.

Sweet Talker was purchased by Courtlandt Farms at Keeneland last fall, after her QEII win.

"I'm lucky we could pick this filly out of the November sale," Motion said. "I thought this would be a good spot to bring her back in."

Sweet Talker paid $3.60 to win and covered the mile on firm turf in a course record 1:34.17. She is 8 for 14 lifetime with earnings of $718,723.