Thistledown: 'Girlish' will be tough

Girlish Giggle rates a slight edge over her 11 Ohio-bred distaff rivals in the fourth running of the $50,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at Thistledown. The race will be decided over 1 1/16 miles.

A 5-year-old owned and trained by W. John Bourke, Girlish Giggle was second in a 1 1/16-mile handicap in her season debut here June 3. Last season, she won 3 of her 4 starts, including a victory in the 1 1/8-mile Rose DeBartolo Memorial last July. She has the tactical speed to be well placed under Tommy Meyers and carries 118 pounds.

The main threats to Girlish Giggle are Imahoneytoo, who carries 119 pounds, and Misty Tab, who beat Girlish Giggle by 1 1/2 lengths in the June 3 handicap. Misty Tab is the 120-pound highweight.

Imahoneytoo won the six-furlong T.F. Classen Memorial in her last start here May 27. She is an Ohio-bred stakes winner going a middle distance and should be a solid factor coming off her sharp sprint effort in the Classen. Scott Spieth, the leading rider at the meet, will ride for trainer Richard Zielinski.

Misty Tab won two Ohio-bred stakes last year and rallied impressively from just off the pace in her victory June 3. She likes to settle into stride before she does her best running.