Without Miss Code West, Blue Ribbon Stakes comes up competitive

Stairstep to Heaven is one of several runners in the $75,000 Blue Ribbon on Monday at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., that have been chasing Miss Code West.

But they will not have to face that dominant Oklahoma-bred filly this time around as she is being pointed to an upcoming stakes at her current base of Sam Houston Race Park.

Her absence makes the Blue Ribbon, a new race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Oklahoma, a more competitive race. The field will travel six furlongs in the first stakes offering of the meet at Will Rogers. There are eight horses signed on, and six have at one time or another raced against Miss Code West.

Miss Code West won all four of her starts last season at Remington Park to be crowned the Oklahoma City track’s horse of the meet. She went on to run a good fourth in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds and will remain at two turns for the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Oaks on Saturday, trainer Kevin Scholl said last month. She is eligible for the race because as a yearling she was sold through a specific auction in Texas.

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Stairstep to Heaven has faced Miss Code West in her last two starts, both at Remington. She was fifth to that rival in the Oklahoma Classics Night Lassie on Oct. 20 and then came back to finish second to her in the Slide Show on Nov. 10. Prior to those races, Stairstep to Heaven was a maiden winner at Ellis Park.

David Cabrera has the mount from the rail for trainer Matthew Sims. The daughter of Tapiture races for her breeder, Rusty Roberts.

Kiss and Tell faced Miss Code West in October, when she was third in the Oklahoma Classics Lassie. Prior to that, Kiss and Tell was a debut winner at Remington. Alex Birzer has the mount for Terry Westemeir and trainer Alan Williams.

Rainbow Angel twice has lined up against Miss Code West, finishing third to her when both debuted in a maiden special weight sprint on Oct. 5 at Remington. Rainbow Angel was then 10th in the Lassie. More recently, she won an entry-level allowance sprint at Will Rogers Downs.

Ready faced Miss Code West in a maiden race, finishing fourth to the future multiple stakes winner.

Lady Zephyr twice has faced Miss Code West, running ninth in the Lassie and seventh in the Slide Show before coming back to win a $30,000 conditioned claiming race by more than six lengths in her most recent start Dec. 14.

Okie Trouble was 12th to Miss Code West in the Lassie.

Lady Zephyr owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 67.

The stakes action continues Tuesday at Will Rogers with the Welder.

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