Thistledown: Needmore Flattery eyes Cleveland Kindergarten for fourth straight win

Needmore Flattery will be going for her fourth win in as many lifetime starts in the $50,000 Cleveland Kindergarten for 2-year-old Ohio-breds at Thistledown on Saturday.

Needmore Flattery won at first asking July 6 at Thistledown. Trainer Tim-Hamm took Needmore Flattery to Beulah Park eight days later, and she won the $50,000 Hoover against statebred males by nearly four lengths. In her most recent outing, she won the $50,000 Miss Ohio locally by over eight lengths against statebred fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Needmore Flattery is one of only two fillies among the 10 entered in the Kindergarten.

A daughter of Flatter, Needmore Flattery is by far the most experienced in the field, as her three wins match the total number of wins by the other nine entrants combined. Irwin Rosendo, aboard for all three victories, retains the mount.

Matter of Fact will be looking for his second win in as many starts in the Kindergarten. Trained by Tim Schuh, Matter of Fact won at first asking July 15 at Mountaineer Park by over seven lengths, ridden out. Ridden by Luis Rivera, Matter of Fact came from just off the pace in the five-furlong race.

With an abundance of speed in the Kindergarten, his off-the-pace style should suit this race. Matter of Fact worked a bullet four furlongs last Friday at the Thoroughbred training center, signaling his readiness. Rivera retains the mount.

The others in the field are Jac's Fact, Obsessionsoptimist, Why Risk It, Geppetto, Wild Pacific, Looch's Only Son, Spring Song and Gypsy Be Wild. Trained by Dick Zielinski, Gypsy Be Wild is a first-time starter and the only other filly in the field.