Will Rogers Downs: Hurricane Girl travels for softer spot in Wilma Mankiller Memorial

The company Hurricane Girl has kept in her recent starts makes her a class play Monday at Will Rogers Downs in the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller Memorial. She will be invading from Oaklawn Park for the six-furlong race for fillies and mares, which drew eight others, including win machine More Than Even.

Hurricane Girl has hooked a series of quality sprinters over her last three starts, all at Oaklawn. She was fourth to Apropos, a candidate for the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland, in the $100,000 American Beauty in January. Hurricane Girl advanced to the $100,000 Spring Fever in February and ran fourth again, to Aireofdistinction, who was winning her fifth straight race. Hurricane Girl proceeded to run second in an open allowance in her most recent start March 8, a race won by the multiple Grade 3-placed Speedinthruthecity.

“It was tough company,” said Jack Frost, who owns and trains Hurricane Girl. “She ran good. Neither one of those stakes came up light. They were raised from $60,000 to $100,000.

“I’d like to get a stakes win for her for later on the down the road if I decide to breed her.”

Hurricane Girl is making her first start at Will Rogers, and Frost is hopeful she will handle the surface.

“The Oaklawn track is a little deeper than what she likes to run on,” he said. “She likes a little tighter surface. I understand it’s a little tighter surface. We’ll see how it goes.”

Hurricane Girl will break from post 5 under Curtis Kimes. Frost said she tends to show speed, and he looks for more of the same Monday. Hurricane Girl might set the pace or track Diamond Lucy, Canopy Lane or More Than Even.

More Than Even will be making her first start since Dec. 15, when she rolled to a 6 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Useeit at Remington Park. It was her fifth win in her last seven starts and produced a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86. Alex Birzer has the mount for trainer Mike Teel.

◗ Holiday Mischief, the winner of last year’s $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs, will be seeking his second straight win in the eighth race. The open allowance for 3-year-olds and up will be run at a mile. Holiday Mischief launched his 4-year-old season at Sam Houston Race Park on Feb. 21 with a wire-to-wire win in an optional $25,000 claimer at a mile. Cliff Berry has the mount for co-owner and trainer Joe Offolter.