Thunder Sky eyes Distaff repeat

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Thunder Sky looks to defend her title in Saturday's $45,000 Distaff Stakes here at Assiniboia Downs. The one-mile Distaff, for Manitoba-bred fillies and mares, goes with a field of six.

Trained by Lyle Harris, Thunder Sky scored her lone win of last season in the Distaff. This year the 6-year-old mare has raced five times, all against first-level allowance company, with her best result a second-place finish two starts ago. In her most recent race, Thunder Sky was fourth behind Hurri Coin, whom she faces again in here.

Last season, Hurri Coin was third in the Distaff and won the restricted R.C. Anderson and J.W. Sifton. Trained by Chad Torevell, Hurri Coin was a close second in the restricted Manitoba Maturity two starts back before winning her most recent, which came in a first-level allowance.

Shooting Astra, the lone 3-year-old in the field, won the R.C. Anderson Stakes at the Distaff's one-mile distance in her last start. Travis Hightower, who rode Shooting Astra for the first time that day, will be back in the irons.

Trainer Blair Miller sends out Simply Marvis and Dream Extreme. Simply Marvis has finished behind Hurri Coin three of four times the two have met this year.

Dream Extreme makes her first start for Miller after two dull outings against first-level allowance company.

Gold With Honor, a winner in 1 of 6 starts this year, all against conditioned claimers, rounds out the field.