Thistledown: Wide-open sprint

The $40,000 North Randall Stakes, a six-furlong race for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds, shapes up as one of the most competitive races of the season at Thistledown.

Cayenne Red is a very quick Cat's Career gelding who has won 7 of his 10 career starts, including a victory in the six-furlong Howard B. Noonan Stakes at Beulah Park on March 27. Since then, he has won 2 of 4 starts, all in allowance sprints. His last race here on July 24 was very impressive when he ran six furlongs in 1:09.60. A similar effort would make him very hard to handle.

Floater, last season's Ohio-bred 2-year-old champion, seeks to regain his form while dropping back to a sprint distance. He is a double stakes winner in 2004, both at middle distances.

Whitermorn is unbeaten in two starts. He steps into the stakes division and will facing the toughest assignment of his short career.