As usual, Monashee looks best

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Monashee will be a very short price when she goes for her seventh straight stakes win in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn stakes at Hastings Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile Strawberry Morn drew five horses, but if Monashee runs her usual race, the rest are running for second money.

Monashee has started twice this year and both times she dominated her opponents with her jockey, Dave Wilson, never asking for her best. She is going around three turns for the first time this year on Saturday, but she has never lost at the distance and she posted her career best Beyer Figure going 1 1/16 miles.

It also appears that Monashee is ready for a peak performance. Following her win in the Senate Appointee May 26, she came back to work a very strong five furlongs in 59.20 seconds June 16, posting fractions of 24, 35.20, and 47.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40.

"I don't know what to say," said trainer Tracy McCarthy. "She seems to be filling out and getting stronger every day. She's really becoming a robust 5-year-old mare."

Monashee will carry high weight of 125 pounds, 12 more than Starlite Strike, who is the second highweight and figures to be the second choice in the wagering.

Trained by Rob VanOverschot, Starlite Strike is coming off of a win over Avenging Kat in a $50,000 optional claiming sprint June 10. Last year, she won the Northland Park Oaks and came very close to winning the Grade 3 Ballerina Breeders' Cup here.