Ward mare making her turf debut

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Dennis Ward likes the fact that Denaesalildevil won't have to face Victorina and Vaca City Flyer when she runs in Thursday's Bay Meadows feature.

Denaesalildevil, a speedy 5-year-old mare, ran third to those two stakes winners as she became stakes-placed for the first time in the Vacaville Handicap at Solano on July 14. She was also third to the same pair in an Aug. 24 race here. Sandwiched between those races was a win on Aug. 8 at the Bay Meadows Fair.

Thursday's race, a five-furlong $80,000 optional claimer at five furlongs on the turf, is hardly a gimme.

It will be the return to action of stakes-winning Royal Kleven for the first time since she ran fourth behind Somethinaboutlaura in the Foster City Handicap here on Feb. 24.

Also entered is stakes-placed Calamity Girl, making her first start since defeating Denaesalildevil on July 2 at Pleasanton.

Helping to make the race all the more interesting is the fact that it will be Denaesalildevil's turf debut.

"The fact it's five furlongs makes me ecstatic," Ward said. "I've been wanting to run at this distance for some time. And I always like to run horses on the grass. If she adapts to the grass, that will give me a lot more options."

Ward likes the hard-trying mare and said, "She's the only one I'm interested to keep to be a broodmare to my sire Bring the Heat."

Denaesalildevil's sire, Suggest, won 3 of 10 turf starts and placed in the Hollywood Turf Express. But his runners are 0 for 18 in their first start on turf.

Devilkin, her dam, was unraced. Denaesalildevil is her oldest foal. Her two younger foals are both winners but untested on turf.

Although she has keen speed, Denaesalildevil relaxed in second before unleashing a winning kick in her Aug. 8 race. She draws the outside post in a field of seven and should be able to dictate terms here.

Miss Harrodsburg, who just won her maiden race at Emerald Downs, is also extremely quick and making her turf debut. Tucker's Tue won wire to wire last out but wasn't close in Denaesalildevil's last win.