Tah Dah Stakes matches pedigree vs. performance

If Sunday's $40,000 Tah Dah Stakes at River Downs were decided solely on pedigree rather than talent, Littlebitabling would win in a walk. Luckily for her, she appears to have both.

Littlebitabling is a 2-year-old filly out of the stakes-winning mare Rose Colored Lady who has become a veritable blue hen among Ohio broodmares. Rose Colored Lady has produced Barnsy, a winner of the Queen City Oaks, and Ready for Roses, the 2005 Ohio horse of the year.

But it is her third offspring, Too Much Bling, who has been her best. Too Much Bling, one of the leading 3-year-old sprinters in the country, already has three graded stakes wins this year and may yet add to that total. He is a virtual shoo-in to be named the 2006 Ohio horse of the year.

Littlebitabling, who recently won an open maiden at Thistledown by over seven lengths, has the potential to follow in her siblings' footsteps, but must first get by nine other statebred fillies in the 5 1/2-furlong Tah Dah.

While respecting Littlebit-abling's blue-blooded credentials, students of form might consider Doubtful the filly to beat in the Tah Dah. Doubtful debuted in a statebred maiden at River on July 1, which she won by nine lengths. Her 53 Beyer Speed Figure towers over Littlebitabling's winning Beyer of 37.

Tim Hamm, the trainer of Littlebitabling, also sends out the maidens Reapintherewards and Mini Mom, both of whom deserve respect, as does debut winner Looks the Part.