Talking Treasure goes short in Anniron

Talking Treasure, a five-time stakes winner in longer races over the past two seasons, shortens up to a distance where she is winless in Friday's $50,000 Anniron Stakes at Finger Lakes.

The six-furlong stakes, restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares, drew a full field of 12, including a four-horse uncoupled entry from trainer Michael Ferraro and the coupling of Motor City Mama and Smokingatthefinish for the meet's leading trainer, Chris Englehart.

Talking Treasure, the stronger part of an uncoupled entry for trainer Charlton Baker, has raced only once since winning the 1 1/8-mile Saratoga Dew at Saratoga in August, fading to a distant ninth of 11 in the seven-furlong Iroquois Handicap at Belmont Park six weeks ago.

In four starts at six furlongs, Talking Treasure has finished second three times, including a neck loss in her first start of the season in the Susan B. Anthony Handicap.

The best of Ferraro's foursome may be Sweet Lorena, a winner in 7 of 14 starts locally. Although she hasn't been as good as she was last year, when she went 7 for 9, Sweet Lorena finished within 1 1/4 lengths of Talking Treasure in the Susan B. Anthony and missed by a head in the six-furlong Arctic Queen Handicap as the 3-5 favorite.

Ferraro also sends out Bob's Dylan, a 3-year-old who steps up to stakes company after winning a pair of sprints and a route against allowance and optional claiming company.

Motor City Mama, a winner against open company in her last two starts, looks like the stronger part of Englehart's entry.

Two others who merit respect are the Steve Klesaris shipper Salt Water Reign and the locally based Guts Game.

Salt Water Reign finished within 2 1/2 lengths of the winner in a pair of restricted stakes at Saratoga and Belmont this past summer. Guts Game has been third or better in her last six starts.