Time's now for 'Brass'

CALGARY, Alberta - Brass to Diamonds has been knocking on the door in stakes this spring and has a golden opportunity to enter the charmed circle in Sunday's $40,000 closing-day feature, the 1 1/16-mile Penny Ridge for 3-year-old fillies.

Brass to Diamonds, champion of her local division last year, was a closing second this spring to Fancy Prancer in the six-furlong Mount Royal and came from last in the one-mile Lilac to finish third behind Sweet Monarch and a tiring Fancy Prancer, who are not in Sunday's lineup.

Their absence leaves the door open for Brass to Diamonds, who is the highweight at 117 pounds. Jaime Santos will break the filly from post 2 in the compact field of five.

Sly Lady drew the rail with regular rider Real Simard up and gets in with 115 pounds. Sly Lady was third in the Mount Royal and fourth in the Lilac and lost ground in the lane in both outings after chasing the fast fractions posted by Fancy Prancer. Santos had taken Brass to Diamonds well back in both races to mount late runs.

With the short field here, both Simard and Santos can be expected to alter strategies.

The absence of Fancy Prancer ensures more moderate fractions, and Simard either can track allowance-class fillies Slewpy Time and Rumpus Kat or opt to send Sly Lady to the lead. Santos cannot afford to concede the ground he did in the Lilac and will be forced to keep Sly Lady within his sights.

Brass to Diamonds will appreciate the longer distance, and other than runaway winner Sweet Monarch was the only filly showing any run down the lane in the Lilac.

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