Thistledown: Pay the Man has never been beaten at Petro distance

Pay the Man has a good chance to return to her winning ways for trainer Miguel Feliciano when racing at her favorite distance over her favorite track Sunday.

The 9-year-old mare will face five other older Ohio-bred fillies and mares in the $50,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at Thistledown. Pay the Man has won 17 of her 25 starts at Thistledown and is a perfect 6 for 6 lifetime at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Petro.

Pay the Man is winless in two starts this season, both six-furlong sprints. In her first start on April 6, she finished fifth in a $30,000 overnight handicap at Tampa Bay Downs. On June 8, she finished second to Caviar N Champagne in the Mackey Memorial at Thistledown.

Ricky Feliciano retains the mount at 122 pounds.

Caviar N Champagne is the highweight at 123 pounds and will give up to seven pounds to her rivals. Trained by Jeff Radosevich, Caviar N Champagne comes into the Petro off a 5 1/4-length victory in the Mackey Memorial. In her first out of the year on April 19, Caviar N Champagne finished fourth in a Thistledown optional claiming race. The 4-year-old then finished fifth in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance at Presque Isle Downs on May 12. Caviar and Champagne has never raced at 1 1/16 miles, but did win at a mile at Mountaineer Park in November last year.

Scott Spieth retains the mount.

Others in the short field are Agressive Elegance, Isadella, Startin Something, and Private Cause.